575 
SOUTH AMERICA. 
on an expedition to deliver New Granada from the Spanish 
yoke. In this he had completely succeeded, the Creoles 
having everywhere seconded his exertions, by rising on the 
Spanish authorities. He fought several battles, in which he 
was victorious, and finally made his triumphal entry into 
Santa Fe de Bogota, where he found a large treasure belong¬ 
ing to the government. 
In the course of the year 1820, the oppressions of Ferdi¬ 
nand gave rise to a revolution in the mother country ; and 
from this period, the war in the colonies seems to have 
languished; and in November 1820, it was happily termi¬ 
nated by an armistice for six months, signed by Bolivar 
and Morillo. 
In the viceroyalty of New Granada a declaration of 
independence was in like manner issued; but the different 
provinces never seem to have concurred with each other in 
any general plan for the conduct of their affairs. The city 
of Santa Fe refused to join the general congress of New 
Granada, and the province of Carthagena preferred to 
conduct its affairs separately from the other members of the 
confederation. For a long time complete success attended 
the independent cause. But general Morillo arriving from 
Spain with a force of 12,000 men, of which he left 2000 at 
Porto Cabello, to aid the Spanish commanders in Venezuela, 
succeeded in taking the town of Carthagena after a long 
siege, and in finally establishing the a.-thority of Fer¬ 
dinand over the whole territory of the confederation. The 
successes of the independent troops in Venezuela had 
enabled them subsequently to march a body of troops into 
New Granada, who were received in many places as deliver¬ 
ers, and finally succeeded in taking Santa Fe de Bogota, and 
in re-establishing the independent cause through great part 
of the country. 
In the vicerovalty of La Plata, the revolution triumphed 
over all resistance, after a long struggle with the royalist 
troops under Liniers, the ex-viceroy, in the course of which 
the infant republic was exposed to many perilous vicissitudes. 
Domestic factions have since arisen, and the city and terri¬ 
tory of Monte Video is governed by a junta of its own, in 
strict alliance with the government of Buenos Ayres. The 
Portuguese under general Lecor entered the Spanish territory 
in 1817, with a pompous proclamation that they came as 
deliverers. Their movements were, however, watched by 
Artigas, the general of Monte Video, who checked every 
attempt they made to extend their dominion in the neigh¬ 
bourhood. 
In Chili, the ancient Spanish authority was peaceably 
superseded by the aristocracy of the country in 1810, and a 
new government was established in its stead. But the 
royalists from Peru having invaded Chili in great force, 
the authority of Ferdinand was fairly re-established through¬ 
out the whole of this extensive country. When the Buenos 
Ayres government, however, had completely prevailed over 
all opposition, they naturally bethought themselves of 
sending assistance to those who, like themselves, were 
struggling for independence. In pursuance of these views, 
a considerable force was dispatched towards Chili, under the 
command of General San Martin, who having encountered 
the royalist troops in the course of his march, totally defeated 
them in several battles; and following up his successes, 
liberated the whole of Chili from the royal authority. The 
Chilian government, now made great exertions for the cause 
of independence, and fitted out a naval force, the command 
of which was given to Lord Cochrane, renowned for his 
brilliant exploits in the British service. With this force the 
Spanish trade in that quarter was greatly harassed; and 
Callao, the port of Lima, placed under blockade. See the 
article Peru, wherein the exploits of this hero, and, indeed, 
a portion of the general history cf South America, is brought 
up to the year 1822. From this period, the events that have 
occurred will be most conveniently entered into in the follow¬ 
ing separate accounts of the main divisions of the country. 
In the article Brazil, the early history of the country so 
named, has been given; and in the article Portugal, its 
separation from Portugal and the establishment of its govern¬ 
ment under the emperor, related. It was there stated, that 
after having acceded to a constitution in 1822, this potentate 
had peremptorily abrogated and dismissed the House of 
Assembly: However, on the 25th of March 1824, the em¬ 
peror, together with his empress and ministers, solemnly 
accepted and swore to observe a constitution, of which the 
following is a sketch:— 
The monarchy is hereditary; but, in another place, it is 
said, that the business of the general assembly is to elect the 
regent or regency, and mark the limits of its authority. 
All Brazilian citizens (that is nearly every body born abroad 
of Brazilian parents, or of foreign parents on Brazilian land), 
vole for their representatives. 
In the first place, the citizens meet in parochial assem¬ 
blies, and choose provincial deputies. These again meet 
and elect the national representatives or general assembly. 
They appear, also, to have some magisterial powers in their 
peculiar provinces, being termed “ Councils General of the 
Provinces.” 
Of the General Assembly, some are called senators; of 
these, thrice the necessary number are proposed by the pro¬ 
vincial deputies, and the emperor selects from them one- 
third. They are chosen for life—must be upwards of 40, 
and have an income of 800 milreas. The deputies chosen 
every four years, must have 400 milreas income. The pro¬ 
vincial deputies, 200. 
From the Parochial Assemblies, monks, soldiers of all 
grades, servants and paupers, are excluded. 
All religions are tolerated, but none must have an external 
form of temple, save the Catholics. 
On most other points, the framers of this constitution have 
copied closely the English, Thus, pardoning, declaring 
peace or war, the nomination of judges, ministers and magis¬ 
trates, rest with the sovereign : thus they have jurors to 
try the fact, and judges to expound and apply the law; and 
they hold the king’s ministers personally responsible. They 
have much improved upon our system, by making their re¬ 
presentative real, by fixing, at a moderate income, the qua¬ 
lification of their deputies, by paying them their expenses 
for their time; and lastly, by fixing what is to be done in 
the event of the imbecility, abdication, &c., of the sovereign. 
The few events that have taken place since the article 
above referred to was published, may properly come in here. 
The very general prevalence of republican principles which 
has taken place over the whole of South America, rendered 
the government, by an emperor, no very easy task; but no 
great or general movement of the people against the impe¬ 
rial power, has yet taken place. In the early part of 1825, 
the government felt itself sufficiently strong, in the public 
estimation, to promulgate a Royal Decree, granting an am¬ 
nesty to all Portuguese banished or imprisoned for political 
crimes. This was a very bold, just and sensible measure, 
and could not fail of tranquillizing the country and restoring, 
in some degree, its capital. 
The boundary of the Brazilian territory not having been 
very amicably settled, some disputes arose between this go¬ 
vernment and the United Provinces, which led to a very 
disastrous war in the beginning of last year. At first, the 
advantage seemed entirely on the side of the republicans, 
whom the natives joined and assumed the title of Patriots. 
Soon after, however, we find the Buenos Ayreans in a most 
desperate condition ; their fleet destroyed, and the Brazilian 
vessels blockading the entrance of the river Plata, and all the 
roads and rivers in their hands, and thereby so completely 
cutting off supplies and commerce that the inhabitants were 
reduced to extreme privations. 
Recently, the attention of the emperor of the Brazils has 
been called to Portugal, and he has dispatched commissioners 
to announce to the Portuguese, that his abdication was only 
conditional; and that if the conditions were not fulfilled on 
the part of the Queen Regent, he should resume the govern¬ 
ment: and he further appointed these commissioners mem¬ 
bers of the Queen Regent’s council. The government have 
not, 
