The Reign of Doctor J. G. R. de Francia, in Paraguay; being an account of a six years' residence in that republic, from July, 1819 to May, 1825 ... Translated from the French, etc

Preface

. On the first of May, 1818, Mr. Longchamps and myself embarked for Buenos Ayres, with the intention of pro ceeding thence either to Chili or to Paraguay. The object of our voyage was to collect some fresh materials for the natural history of those countries — an employment for which our acquaintance with medicine had given us some facilities. As soon as we reached Buenos Ayres, after a passage of only sixty days, we made the necessary inquiries respecting the countries which we had proposed to visit, and, at last, selected Paraguay as being the place least known, and being then more settled than any other of the provinces. Although, at that time, Doctor Francia had been at the head of affairs for many years, in Para guay, yet, not the most distant information respecting his government appeared to have reached Buenos Ayres ; it was generally supposed that the province was in a state of profound tranquillity. On the third of August we again embarked, and ascended the Parana as far as Corrientes, a town standing on the left bank of that river, a

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. IV near the place of its junction with the river Paraguay. During this voyage, which lasted seven weeks, we had an opportunity of tracing the ruinous effects of Artigas's government. One of his lieutenants, who was at the head of a body of troops, consisting entirely of Indians from the destroyed missions of Entre Rios, was then in command at Corrientes. His depredations, which were particularly injurious to the trade of Paraguay, interrupted all intercourse with the latter country; and it was not until eight months afterwards, when the Indians withdrew, that the communications were restored. We were but too happy to be able to leave a place, where the most complete anarchy prevailed. Here, likewise, as well as at Buenos Ayres, no one knew any thing of Doctor Francia, unless it was, that he had established the greatest order in his country, to which several families had fled as a place of refuge, from the persecutions of Artigas.

We proceeded up the Paraguay, and arrived at Assumption on the 30th of July, 1819. We were struck with astonishment, when the individuals to whom we had letters, recommended us to observe the utmost circumspection in every part of our conduct, without making any further explanation. Fortunately, an Eng lish physician, Doctor Parlet, apprised us of the character of Francia, and the nature of his government; and we found his information of use to us in our very first inter view with the Dictator. However, all that had been

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. V committed by Doctor Francia, up to that time, was only a prelude to the grand spectacle, of which we were the forced witnesses for six years. The history of our residence at Paraguay, and the manner in which we were employed there, form the subjects of the present work, and of another on the natural history of that country. It will be sufficient then to state here, that it pleased the Dictator, in the month of May, 1825, to grant us leave to depart in a vessel which was bound for Buenos Ayres, and that we availed ourselves of that permission. We had scarcely got beyond the frontier of Paraguay, when we were assailed with inquiries concerning Doctor Francia. Such was the complete ignorance about him, which prevailed even at the very entrance of his province ! Again, at Buenos Ayres, where we stayed several months ; then at Brazil, where we were obliged to put in for repairs ; and lastly in Europe, we had reason to be satisfied, that the Dictator of Paraguay was an object of equal curiosity.

Every body appeared to form a notion of his own as to the character of Francia, according as reliance was placed on the false and contradictory stories of travellers, who had visited the South American coast. By some he was looked upon as a philosopher, who, being anxious to secure his fellow-countrymen from the miseries of revolution, and to introduce civilization amongst them, had resolved upon keeping them isolated from the rest of

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. VI the world, whilst other states were the prey of civil war. Others again regarded him as an usurper, whose object was to aggrandize himself by the ruin of his country. A third party, remembering the revival of a certain religious order in Europe, the name of which is insepa rable from that of Paraguay, thought that they saw in Francia, an agent of the Jesuits ; whilst the enemies of independence in South America were pleased at the prospect of finding, in the Dictator, a supporter of the fallen power, who would revenge its wrongs. In order to enable the public to appreciate the character of this mysterious personage, we have resolved upon presenting this part of our travels in a separate form. Although 1 stand forward as the editor, I think it proper to state, that the greater part of the facts have occurred to Mr. Longchamps, as well as to myself; and it is with our mutual privity that the narrative is given to the world .

Perhaps the best security which we can offer for the truth of this picture, is simply the statement, that it might have cost us our heads to have suffered ourselves to be deceived as to the character of Doctor Francia. Thus it is, that the impulse of self-preservation will oblige the traveller, who passes into the wilds of vast continents, to study, even though he may not be a naturalist, the habits of the tyger or the jaghar. The history of Paraguay, from its conquest to the period of its liberation, has been written with sufficient

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. VII accuracy by several authors ; this was another reason with me not to suppress materials which will serve, hereafter, for the continuation of its authentic annals. At no remote era, perhaps, the republics of South Ame rica may expect to enjoy a high degree of prosperity, and be enabled to exercise a salutary influence over the governments of Europe. When that shall take place, the world will, no doubt, be curious to trace the steps by which they proceeded to such a destiny, and the circumstances which attended their progress. Hence, then, the importance of Paraguay is not to be estimated by its present condition, so much as by that higher state to which it will, in all probability, ultimately arrive. There can be no doubt, that the ex tinction of its present form of government will be followed by the incorporation of Paraguay with the Con federation of Rio de la Plata — a measure which it is invited to adopt, not less by ancient recollections, than by natural situation, and the course of its rivers.

Cut off from Upper Peru by a vast desert, on the one hand, and, on the other, influenced by an old feeling of national hatred against Brazil, Paraguay must be indisposed to an alliance with either of those states. Once settled, it will go on prospering by freedom of trade, and the progress of civilization. Although its population bears no sort of proportion to the extent of its territory, still it contains more inhabitants for its size, than any other of

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. VIII the provinces which acknowledged formerly the authority of the Viceroy of Buenos Ayres. With a salu brious climate and fertile soil, Paraguay has also immense forests, which yield spontaneously two very valuable objects of exportation — the herb of Paraguay, and timber for building. When the population of South America shall experience that natural growth, which has been hitherto hindered by vicious institutions ; and when its foreign connections shall be multiplied — then will this province attain fresh importance, be coming, in consequence of the convenience of its rivers, (the Parana, the Paraguay, and the Vermejo), the centre of commerce with Matogroso and Upper Peru. All these advantages will give to Paraguay a leading rank amongst the rising states of South America. — May they, in their turn, be taught from the experience of her misfortunes, to appreciate the fruits of Dictatorships and Presidencies for life !

The reader may be surprised to find in this narrative scarcely any thing to consist with the accounts which have been circulated respecting Paraguay. Doctor Francia was represented in the public journals of the Continent, as governing in the name of the Dow ager Queen of Portugal. It was then said, that overtures were made by the Emperor Don Pedro to the Dictator, to effect the union of Paraguay with Brazil, whilst the latter was stated to be negotiating

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. IX with the court of Madrid, and to have had his com missioners in that capital. Lastly, there appeared a gentleman of the name of Le Fort, Marquis of Gua ranis, and Generalissimo of the army of Paraguay, in whose favour, it was said, Francia abdicated the go vernment, transferring the reigns of power to the hands of General Zapidas, provisionally, until the return of Le Fort, and he himself retiring to Villa del Pilar. But, all of a sudden, Francia appears at the head of affairs ; proclaims the independence of Paraguay, calling together and directing a congress from provinces, some of which belong to Upper Peru, and others to the Confederation of Rio de la Plata; and lastly, he is seen declaring war against Brazil. It was somewhat surprising to find such frequent com munications proceeding from a country which was noto riously sealed against all intercourse, especially when it was known that at Buenos Ayres, whose inhabitants were so peculiarly interested in those changes, no information of the sort had been even heard of, and that the English Journals were in the like state of profound ignorance.

But, without entering into any further reasons, it is enough to state that the whole of this pretended news is a tissue of falsehood. Every one of the names made use of, is fabricated. There never were known, at Paraguay, such a person as Le Fort or a Marquis of Guaranis ; still less a Bernardino Zapidas, or a Galicien

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. X Abendano, who was said to have been shot in the course of the insurrection: and with respect to the brother and brother-in-law of the Dictator, who had, according to the above account, retired with him to Villa del Pilar, the first is in a state of mental alien ation, and the other is in chains. But it is a fact, that there was a person at Madrid, under the name of Le Fort, Marquis of Guaranis, a pretended agent of Doctor Francia. Is it not probable that this individual might have been the inventor of the elaborate imposition, for the purpose of gaining credit to his mission ? I have been assured that he was, at first, well received by the government : but, the imposture being soon de tected, he was obliged to break off his negotiations and seek safety in flight. According to the latest letters which I received from Buenos Ayres, I have reason to think that Paraguay is still in the same condition as when we left it.

The intercourse between those two countries is now more difficult than before ; and even the vessel which brought us from Assumption, was not permitted to return to that city. J R. RENGGER, Doctor. Aaras, \6th March, 1827.

Introduction

. In order that the reader may better understand the events which I am about to relate, it may be useful to premise some general remarks on that part of South America which has been the theatre of those pro ceedings. The ancient jurisdiction of the Viceroy of Buenos Ayres comprised nearly the whole of the territory which lies between the fifty-sixth degree of longitude, according to the meridian of Paris, and the base of the Andes — and between the sixteenth degree of south latitude, and the Straits of Magellan. It consisted of the large provinces of Upper Peru, Tucuman, Cuyo, Buenos Ayres, Banda Oriental, and Paraguay. With respect to Patagonia, the Pampas, and Great Chaco, which were also included in the above jurisdiction — those countries were inhabited

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. XII by savage Indians only. Each of these provinces, with the exception of Buenos Ayres, where the Viceroy resided, had its affairs administered by a governor appointed by the latter. The province of Banda Oriental, which, by its vicinity to Paraguay, is worthy of particular notice, was, itself, subdivided into two territories, one of which, being situated on the left bank of the Uruguay, formed the country of Banda Oriental, properly so called. The other division received the name of Entre Rios, in consequence of its being comprised between the Uruguay and the Parana. In fact, Paraguay is a sort of penin sula or delta, formed by the course of the Parana and the Paraguay, from the point of their confluence to the twenty fifth degree of south latitude. The treaty of St. Ilde fonso, concluded between Spain and Portugal in 1777, it is true, fixed this boundary at four degrees more to the north.

But the Portuguese contrived, by delays, to elude the execution of the treaty; and ever since they have maintained the portion of territory which they had ori ginally usurped. The province of Paraguay is now composed of Paraguay, properly so called, — -the extent of which is calculated at ten thousand square leagues, — and, since the expulsion of the Jesuits, of the inconsiderable district that lies between the Parana and the Uruguay, where a part of the missions of this order had been established. The population of Paraguay is small compared with

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. XIII lts size. I cannot speak positively on this point, for the state of the country, and the jealous character of the Dictator, prevented me from making the necessary in quiries. But, as far as I have learned, the population does not appear to exceed two hundred thousand souls : it was not half that number in 1786, when a census was made : and, since that epoch, particularly since the revolution, Paraguay has never been in a condition fa vourable to the multiplication of its inhabitants. The government itself is ignorant upon the subject, and endeavours to give exaggerated accounts : but making the computation according to the number of effective men which it can count upon, we will find that the gross population does not exceed the amount above stated. This population consists of whites, blacks, and a mixed race.

The first class, comprising eight hundred Spaniards, the remainder being Creoles, forms the seven-tenths of the population. The Indians compose another tenth. The mixed race and the blacks make up the other two tenths. The Creoles, who are generally the descendants of the first conquerors of America from their marriages with Indian women, preserved for a long time the traits of the Indian character ; but, in consequence of a cross of the Spanish race, all traces of that origin are effaced : they have even lost all recollection of it, and that so completely, as to seek to deprive the mongrel, in the first

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. XIV degree, of those civil rights, which they themselves en joyed so long. As to the Indians,— though free, they are ineligible to any office, except over their own colony. The mixed races consist of mongrels, who are still re cognised as such ; of mulattos, properly so called ; and of a mixture of Indian and black. In these latter classes the child follows the condition of the mother, and is free or servile according to that standard. Although the men of colour are, in a great measure, free, they have been always supposed unfit for office: and, notwithstanding that some of them, since the revolution, have been admitted to office, the ancient Spanish prejudice is not the less strong against them. The blacks, whether free or slaves, are very few in Paraguay. The revolution in Buenos Ayres, as in the rest of Spanish America, took the course of the revolution of the mother country.

The intelligence of the abdication of Charles IV., in favour of his son, on the 19th February, 1808, reached Buenos Ayres in the beginning of August following. A few days afterwards— the 13th —an emissary from Napoleon presented himself with dispatches from the new government of Spain. He was obliged to rein-bark instantly by order of the Viceroy, Liniers ; and on the 21st, the oath of allegiance to Ferdinand the VII. was taken. A tendency began to manifest itself in various quarters, to the formation of juntas after the model of that of Seville; but the Viceroy was able to

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. XV suppress these symptoms every where, except at Monte Video. There the governor Elio distrusting, or affecting to distrust, Liniers, who was of French extraction favoured, this innovation. In 1809, the central junta of Seville deposed Liniers, and replaced him by Cisneros. The latter, having ascertained in 1809 that the whole of Spain, except Cadiz, was in the occupation of the French armies,' became altogether confounded, and issued a proclamation on the 19th of May, in which, after describing the calamities of the mother country, he proposes a phantom of national representation. The municipality of Buenos Ayres, although consisting, for the most part, of Spaniards, immediately called a general assembly of the citizens of that place, which, on the 25th of May, deposed the Viceroy and substituted, in his stead, a junta of nine persons, — all Creoles.

This junta, acting in the name of Ferdinand VII., resolved to have itself acknowledged throughout the jurisdiction of the late Viceroy : and then rose that struggle, be tween the Americans who favoured the junta, and the Spaniards who would support a Viceroy, which speedily resolved itself into a war of independence. The result of this war has been, that, with the ex ception of Upper Peru, of Banda Oriental, and Para guay, the territory over which the ancient Viceroy of Buenos Ayres presided, is now become the Confederation of the Rio de la Plata. The whole of Upper Peru is _vi

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. now a federal state under the title of Bolivia, — derived from the name of the Liberator : Banda Oriental, now the province of Cis-Platina, is the subject of contention between the Emperor Don Pedro and Buenos Ayres. In effect, Paraguay forms a very peculiar state, the history of which I am now about to trace. DOCTOR FRA NCI A, IN FIRST PART.