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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The following account of the Colonies from which sprang the States of South America owes its origin to the want of such a work felt by myself some years ago. In 1866 I received the appointment of second Secretary to Her Majesty’s Legation in the Argentine Republic and Paraguay . My previous experience having been in quite another part of the world, I had all to learn respecting the regions which I was about to visit. The only book which had been recommended to me was Sir Woodbine Parish’s work o
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Book I.
Book I.
Until the approach of the sixteenth century the South American continent, in so far as European knowledge was concerned, was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep that encompassed it. At that time the Spirit of God that moved upon the face of the waters said, “Let there be light;” and there was light. On the 30th of May 1498 Columbus set sail from San Lucar de Barrameda , with a squadron of six vessels, on his third voyage of discovery, taking a course much further to
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SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE S O U T H A M E R I C A DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE S O U T H A M E R I C A DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
BY ROBERT GRANT WATSON, EDITOR OF “MURRAY’S HANDBOOK OF GREECE,” FOURTH EDITION, 1872. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: TRÜBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL. 1884. [ All rights reserved. ] Ballantyne Press BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON...
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SOUTH AMERICA. Book II. CHAPTER I. BRAZIL; THE DUTCH WAR. 1623-1637.
SOUTH AMERICA. Book II. CHAPTER I. BRAZIL; THE DUTCH WAR. 1623-1637.
The appearance of the Dutch as actors on the Brazilian stage arose, as might be expected, from the connection of the Low Countries with Spain and from that of Spain with Portugal. Their success in attacking the sources of their enemy’s supplies in the East led to the establishment of a West Indian Company, the chief object of which was to make conquests in Brazil . A fleet was fitted out under the command of Willekens, who had under him the celebrated Peter Heyne. The religious intolerance from
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CHAPTER II. BRAZIL; THE DUTCH WAR; GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNT OF NASSAU. 1638-1644.
CHAPTER II. BRAZIL; THE DUTCH WAR; GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNT OF NASSAU. 1638-1644.
The Count of Nassau arrived in Brazil at a critical moment, for the Portuguese were so emboldened by success that even the road between Recife and Olinda was not safe, and the sugar-works, whose existence was of such vital importance, were placed in danger. The tenths of these were at this time farmed for no less a sum than two hundred and eighty thousand florins . Nassau distributed two thousand six hundred men among the garrisons; whilst he formed an army of three thousand, and assigned six hu
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CHAPTER III. BRAZIL; THE DUTCH WAR; RISING OF THE PORTUGUESE. 1644-1645.
CHAPTER III. BRAZIL; THE DUTCH WAR; RISING OF THE PORTUGUESE. 1644-1645.
It is satisfactory to know that the treacherous policy which the Dutch had thought themselves strong enough to pursue toward Portugal in her hour of weakness, was followed with the worst possible results to themselves. They had at no time been so completely masters of Pernambuco as to be able to supply Recife with provisions for the country; and, when an honestly-observed truce might have enabled them to consolidate their conquests, they set the Portuguese an example of practices which speedily
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CHAPTER IV. BRAZIL; CONCLUSION OF THE DUTCH WAR. 1646-1661.
CHAPTER IV. BRAZIL; CONCLUSION OF THE DUTCH WAR. 1646-1661.
Haus , with the wreck of his army, continued his retreat throughout the night, never halting until seven leagues’ distance lay between him and the scene of his defeat. He then awaited his wounded and stragglers, whilst he sent to Recife for immediate assistance. Succours reached him the same day, sufficient to secure his further retreat, but not to enable him to resume offensive operations. The Council now distinctly perceived their danger; and they had reasons to distrust the professions of the
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CHAPTER V. BRAZIL; JESUIT MISSIONS IN NORTHERN BRAZIL. 1652-1662.
CHAPTER V. BRAZIL; JESUIT MISSIONS IN NORTHERN BRAZIL. 1652-1662.
Mention has more than once been made in the preceding chapter of Antonio Vieyra, the Jesuit, a man of singular ability, who was destined to play a distinguished part in the history of his time, both as a statesman and as an ecclesiastic, and who has left behind him one of the foremost names in the splendid literature of his country. Before proceeding to relate the part which he took in the affairs of Brazil , it may be well to give a sketch of his remarkable career up to this time. Vieyra was bo
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CHAPTER VI. BRAZIL; ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FRENCH IN SOUTH AMERICA. 1657-1696.
CHAPTER VI. BRAZIL; ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FRENCH IN SOUTH AMERICA. 1657-1696.
On the termination of the war which liberated Pernambuco , Barreto, who it will be remembered shared with Fernandes and Vidal the command of the Portuguese troops, was rewarded with the post of Governor-General of Brazil ; and upon him fell the task of raising the proportion of the annual sum which, according to the treaty, was to be paid to the Dutch. The amount which was to be levied on Brazil for this purpose was 120,000 cruzados [4] yearly, for sixteen years, being nearly half of the whole c
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CHAPTER VII. BRAZIL; THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 1600-1700.
CHAPTER VII. BRAZIL; THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 1600-1700.
At the close of the seventeenth century the Portuguese race had established themselves along the whole extent of the coasts of the vast region which now forms the Brazilian Empire,—from Pará in the north to Rio Grande Do Sul at the other extremity. Of the interior of these immense provinces, extensive spaces—equal, indeed, to the size of European kingdoms—were then, and are still, uninhabited. The clouds driven westward by the periodical winds which prevail at certain seasons on the Southern Atl
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CHAPTER VIII. PERU; PROGRESS OF THE VICEROYALTY. 1551-1774.
CHAPTER VIII. PERU; PROGRESS OF THE VICEROYALTY. 1551-1774.
Notwithstanding Gasca’s wise regulations, the tranquillity of Peru was not of long continuance. It was impossible that a country where anarchy had so long prevailed, and which contained so many discontented adventurers, should quietly settle down at once in the ways of peace. Several successive insurrections desolated the land for some years. These fierce but transient storms, however, excited by individual ambition, need not occupy attention. It is sufficient to say that in these contests a num
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CHAPTER IX. VICEROYALTY OF NEW GRANADA; CAPTAIN-GENERALSHIP OF VENEZUELA. 1535-1790.
CHAPTER IX. VICEROYALTY OF NEW GRANADA; CAPTAIN-GENERALSHIP OF VENEZUELA. 1535-1790.
For some time after the disastrous failure of the attempt of Las Casas to found a colony on the Pearl Coast of Cumaná , the northern portion of Spanish South America, from the Orinoco westwards, is almost lost to history. The powers working for good had signally failed, and the powers of evil seemed to have it almost all their own way. The regions discovered by the Spaniards were so vast, in proportion to the numbers of the discoverers, that many of them were long lost to view, and probably to m
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CHAPTER X. PROGRESS OF THE COLONY. 1604-1792.
CHAPTER X. PROGRESS OF THE COLONY. 1604-1792.
Don Garcia Raymon was once more appointed to the government of Chili , and received one thousand soldiers from Europe and a fourth of that number from Mexico . He thus found himself at the head of three thousand regular troops, besides auxiliaries. With such a force at his disposal, it was natural that he should once more invade Arauco , in which territory he erected a fort; the existence of which, however, was of short duration, it being abandoned to the Araucanians. Raymond divided his force i
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CHAPTER XI. BRAZIL: DISCOVERY OF THE MINES; ATTEMPT OF THE FRENCH ON RIO DE JANEIRO. 1702-1720.
CHAPTER XI. BRAZIL: DISCOVERY OF THE MINES; ATTEMPT OF THE FRENCH ON RIO DE JANEIRO. 1702-1720.
The search for the precious metals had long shared with slave-hunting the efforts of the Paulistas and others. Rumours of the existence of silver and gold had long excited the hopes of the Portuguese Government, and from time to time a stray specimen was procured from some unknown spot in the interior. But up to the close of the seventeenth century nothing was actually known as to the localities where the precious minerals were concealed. With the opening of the eighteenth century, however, a ne
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CHAPTER XII. BRAZIL: DISCOVERY OF THE DIAMOND DISTRICT. 1724-1749.
CHAPTER XII. BRAZIL: DISCOVERY OF THE DIAMOND DISTRICT. 1724-1749.
The mining districts had on several occasions been the scene of serious and prolonged resistance against the constituted authorities, in consequence of the regulations respecting the mode of levying the royal share which were introduced with a view to prevent smuggling. It had been found necessary to make a severe example of the ringleaders of an insurrection; and the mining population were thenceforward amenable to law. It was established that all gold was to pass through the royal smelting-hou
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CHAPTER XIII. FOUNDATION AND PROGRESS OF BUENOS AYRES. 1580-1800.
CHAPTER XIII. FOUNDATION AND PROGRESS OF BUENOS AYRES. 1580-1800.
In the year 1580 the foundations of a lasting city were laid at Buenos Ayres by De Garay on the same situation as had twice previously been chosen—namely, by Mendoza, and by Cabeza de Vaca, respectively. The same leader had before this founded the settlement of Santa Fè on the Paraná . The site selected for the future capital of the Pampas is probably one of the worst ever chosen for a city—a fact which is at once palpable to every one who has visited the place. That the same site should have be
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CHAPTER XIV. BRAZIL; THE WAR OF THE SEVEN REDUCTIONS. 1750-1761.
CHAPTER XIV. BRAZIL; THE WAR OF THE SEVEN REDUCTIONS. 1750-1761.
The discovery of mining districts in the interior of Brazil caused both Spanish and Portuguese statesmen to perceive that the period had arrived when it was desirable, in the interests of both countries and of their respective colonies, to establish a boundary-line between their several possessions in South America. The famous Bull of Pope Alexander VI. had long become a dead letter. The fact of the Spanish Queen of Ferdinand VI. being a Portuguese princess, and having great influence over her h
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CHAPTER XV. BRAZIL; EXPULSION OF THE JESUITS FROM PORTUGAL AND BRAZIL. 1759-1767.
CHAPTER XV. BRAZIL; EXPULSION OF THE JESUITS FROM PORTUGAL AND BRAZIL. 1759-1767.
The reign of Jesuitism in Europe was drawing towards its close. For two hundred years the Society had exercised unbounded influence over kings and courts. Its machinery for governing was so perfect, and its system was so subtle that it began to appear to statesmen that unless this ambitious order were speedily and effectually opposed, it must soon dominate Christendom. The alternative to its suppression was that European civilization must be assimilated to that which the Jesuits had introduced i
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CHAPTER XVI. PARAGUAY; EXPULSION OF THE JESUITS FROM BUENOS AYRES AND PARAGUAY. 1649-1805.
CHAPTER XVI. PARAGUAY; EXPULSION OF THE JESUITS FROM BUENOS AYRES AND PARAGUAY. 1649-1805.
From the date of the removal of Bishop Cárdenas as governor of Paraguay [1648], that province had enjoyed freedom from internal dissensions; until, in 1717, Don Diego Balmaceda was named governor by the Viceroy of Peru . His nomination was unpopular, and, after two years, serious charges were preferred against him before the Audience of Charcas , which that body were occupied during the three succeeding years in investigating. Meanwhile Don Jose de Antiquera had obtained the provisional successi
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CHAPTER XVII. BRAZIL IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY; ARRIVAL OF THE BRAGANZAS. 1776-1806.
CHAPTER XVII. BRAZIL IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY; ARRIVAL OF THE BRAGANZAS. 1776-1806.
In tracing the course of the progress of Brazil it should be mentioned that in the year 1776 the fort of Nova Coïmbra was founded on the Upper Paraguay , in the province of Matto-Grosso , as a protection against the formidable tribe of the Guaycurús , which people, it is estimated, inflicted upon the Portuguese the loss of four thousand lives and three millions of cruzados . It should also be mentioned that about the same time the Academy of Sciences and Natural History was founded at Rio de Jan
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CHAPTER XVIII. REPULSE OF GENERAL WHITELOCKE AT BUENOS AYRES. 1806-1807.
CHAPTER XVIII. REPULSE OF GENERAL WHITELOCKE AT BUENOS AYRES. 1806-1807.
Spain having taken part with Napoleon against the English, by granting the former a monthly subsidy, gave the latter power to make reprisals on the Spanish colonies. The first act of war was the seizure of four transports coming from La Plata —an act which decided Charles IV. to declare himself openly the ally of Napoleon in the war, which declaration was followed by the destruction of the Spanish fleet by Nelson at Trafalgar. To this disaster may in a great measure be traced the facility with w
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I.
I.
A general court-martial was held at Chelsea Hospital, on Lieutenant-General Whitelocke, on January 28, 1808. Its members included the conqueror of Agra and Lasswarree, and the future hero of Coruña. They were General the Right Hon. Sir W. Medows, General the Hon. Chapel Norton, General Viscount Lake, General Hulse, General Ogilvie, General Cuyler, Lieutenant-General the Right Hon. H. E. Fox, Lieutenant-General Sir James Duff, Knight; Lieutenant-General Harris, Lieutenant-General Viscount Cathcar
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II.
II.
Extract of a Letter from Sir S. Achmuty to Mr. Wyndham. The escape of General Beresford, an event as pleasing and important as it was unexpected, has put us in full possession of the views of the leading men, and the real state of the country. He had been ordered, immediately after the fall of Monte Video , to a town 300 leagues inland, and was already between forty and fifty leagues from Buenos Ayres , when two Spanish officers, in the family of the Governor, who had been endeavouring to enter
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