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fell first upon Francia, whose extraordinary- 

 power thus commenced, and still continues in 

 all its vigour. 



He, in fact, represents in his single person 

 the concentrated essence of Jesuitism, without 

 the mildness of character and admirable policy 

 which distinguished that remarkable govern- 

 ment. He rigidly adheres to a determination 

 of never having any commercial or political 

 intercourse with other nations. The popula- 

 tion, which is chiefly Indian, was formerly well 

 supplied with all its wants, from home manu- 

 factures : but the system of cultivation, as well 

 as every thing introduced by the Jesuits, had 

 long fallen into disuse. The people now are 

 wretchedly poor, and their veneration for 

 Francia is entirely the result of fear, acting 

 strongly upon a people naturally timid and 

 simple. This fertile territory, therefore, no 



