flight, he took the rash step of drowning himself. From the moment that he heard this event, the character of the dictator began sensibly to change for the better.

At length, in the beginning of the year 1825, Mr. Parish, the British charge d'affaires at Buenos Ayres, notified to Francia that a treaty of commerce had been concluded between England and Buenos Ayres, the effect of which was the recognition of the independence of the South American states. Mr. Parish, under these circumstances, solicited the permission of the Dictator for the English merchants then detained in Paraguay, to depart with their property. Francia was so well pleased with this political intelligence, that he not only complied with the demand, but returned an answer to the British agent, in which he condescended to justify the course he had pursued towards those persons. However, sometime afterwards, when Mr. Parish made an application to the Dictator to set M. Bonpland at liberty, he returned the note in a blank envelope, with this laconic address:-"To Parish, English consul at Buenos Ayres."

The act of grace which had been thus exercised in favour of one class of strangers, was followed by similar indulgence to others; and on the 25th of May, 1825, Messrs. Rengger and Longchamps took their departure from Assumption, amidst the good wishes of thousands, who assembled to see them embark.

It is due to truth,' says the former, 'to state, that during the six years' residence which I made in Paraguay, doctor Francia never placed the slightest impediment in the way of our pursuits; on the contrary, we experienced frequent marks of kindness from him. With respect to the inhabitants of Paraguay, both Creoles and Spaniards, we cannot justly speak of them in any other than terms of praise; we shall ever preserve a grateful sense of the hospitable reception which they afforded us'-p. 170.

We have thus far confined ourselves to the details which immediately relate to doctor Francia himself. We are obliged to pass over that division of the work, which is taken up with more general matters the constitution and effect of Francia's government, his laws, civil and criminal, his various regulations of internal economy, the nature of his police, his military resources, his religious reforms and his financial arrangements: in the management of which, the peculiar character of the Dictator is so visible.

We must also refer to the work itself for many extraordinary anecdotes, and a variety of interesting traits of character and manners; as we presume that another month will not elapse, before a version of this work in our own language, will give the English reader an opportunity of perusing the contents of one of the most singular productions of modern times.

After having seen so much of Francia in the public exercise of his usurped power, and having witnessed the varied effects which resulted to the state from the activity of so strange a combination of wickedness and natural sagacity as constitutes his character, it

only remains for us to fill up the picture, by supplying the particulars relating to the private life of the Dictator, with which we are furnished by Dr. Rengger.

Dr. Francia had taken up his residence, at the commencement of his government, in the habitation of the ancient governors of Paraguay. It was built by the Jesuits, and is one of the noblest edifices in Assumption. This structure he repaired and embellished; and he further detached it from other houses in the city, by interposing wide streets. Here he lives, with four slaves-a negro, one male, and two female mulattoes, whom he treats with great mildness. The two men perform the functions of valet de chambre and groom. One of the two mulatto women is his cook, and the other takes care of his wardrobe. He leads a very regular life—the first rays of the sun very rarely find him in bed. As soon as he rises, the negro brings him a chafingdish, a kettle, and a pitcher of water, which is heated in his presence. The Dictator then prepares, with the greatest possible care, his maté, or Paraguay tea. Having taken this, he walks under the interior peristyle that looks upon the court, and smokes a cigar, which he first takes care to unroll, to ascertain that there is nothing dangerous in it, though it is his own sister who manufactures them for him. At six o'clock the barber arrives, a filthy, ill-clothed, and drunken mulatto; but the only member of the faculty in whom he confides. If the Dictator is in good humour, he chats with him, and often, in this manner makes use of him, to prepare the public for his projects: this barber may be said to be his official gazette. He then puts on a dressing gown of printed calico, and repairs to the outer peristyle, where he walks up and down, and receives at the same time those persons who are admitted to an audience. Towards seven he enters his closet, where he remains until nine, when the officers and other functionaries come to make their reports, and receive his orders. At eleven o'clock, the fiel de fecho (principal secretary), brings the papers which are to be submitted to his inspection, and writes from his dictation until noon, when all the officers retire, and Dr. Francia sits down to table. His dinner, which is extremely frugal, be always orders himself. When the cook returns from market, she deposits her provisions at the door of her master's closet. The Doctor then comes out, and selects what he wishes for his own use. After dinner he takes his siesta. On awakening, he drinks his maté, and smokes a cigar, after taking the same precaution as that observed in the morning. From this, until four or five, he is occupied with business, when the escort to attend him on his promenade arrives. The barber then enters and dresses his hair, while his horse is saddling. During his ride, the Dr. inspects the public works, and the barracks, particularly that of the cavalry, where a habitation is preparing for him. While riding, though surrounded by escort, he is armed with a sabre, and a pair of double-barrelled pocket pistols. He returns home about nightfall, and sits down to study until nine; when he goes to supper, which consists of a roasted pigeon and a glass of wine. If the weather is fine, he again walks under the peristyle, where he often remains until a very late hour. At ten o'clock he gives the watchword. On returning into the house, he fastens all the doors himself, For several months in the year he resides at the cavalry barrack, which is ontside the city, about a quarter of a league from his usual residence; but there his manner of living is the same, except that he sometimes takes

his

the pleasures of the chase. In the apartment that he occupies, there are always arms within his reach. Pistols are hung upon the walls, or placed upon the table near him; and sabres, the greater number unsheathed, are to be found in every corner. This fear of assassination is also shown in the etiquette preserved at his audiences. The person admitted, must not approach nearer the Dictator than six paces, until he makes him a sign to advance; and even then, he must always stop at a distance of three paces. His arms must be held close to his body, and his hands open and hanging down, so that it be evident that he has no concealed arms. The officers even are not permitted to enter his presence with swords by their sides. Nevertheless, he is pleased that the person addressing him should look him straight in the face, and return prompt and positive answers. Speaking on this subject one day, as I was about opening the body of one of the natives, he told me to see if his countrymen had not one bone more than the usual number in their neck, which prevented them from holding up their heads and speaking out. At the commencement of a conversation he strives to intimidate; but if his first attack be met with firmness, be softens down, and finishes by conversing very agreeably; that is, when he is in good humour. It is in such ways, you perceive him to be a man of great talents; he turns the conversation upon the most varied subjects, evinces considerable powers of mind, great penetration, and very extensive acquirements for one, who, it may be said, has never quitted Paraguay. Divested, himself, of the numberless prejudices with which his countrymen are imbued, he often makes them the subject of his wit, or sarcasm. During a conversation I once had with him, he turned into great ridicule the commandant and priest of Curuguaty, who had sent to him a poor woman in chains and decorated with an immense rosary, whom they accused of being a sorceress. He then went into an account of the chains and spells in use in Paraguay, pointing out the particular virtues of some of them in effecting cures. He concluded thus:-"You see what priests and religion are good for-they make us believe more in the devil than in God." When the Dictator is attacked by an access of hypochondria, he either shuts himself up altogether, or vents his ill-humour on those around him. It is during these paroxyms that he is most prone to inflict imprisonment, and the severest punishments. He thinks nothing of issuing a sentence of death at such a moment. It is remarked, that when the north-east wind blows, which always brings on sudden and frequent rains, the Dictator is affected by his malady; but his good humour is restored when the wind changes to the south-west. Then he sings, laughs to himself, and chats very readily with all persons who approach But he instantly forgets all benefit and service, all claims of relationship, in any one who fails in paying due respect to his authority and person. Not to give him the title of " Most Excellent Signor," is a crime never to be forgiven. He opens no letter that is not exactly addressed"The Most Excellent Signor, Don Casper Rodriguez de Francia, Supreme and Perpetual Dictator of the Republic of Paraguay." So self-confident is he, that he consults no person. If sooner or later he yields to that lot which appears to be reserved for all oppressors of their country, he will have only himself to blame.''—pp. 280-293.

him.

387

ART. IX. 1. Letters from his late Majesty to the late Lord Kenyon, on the Coronation Oath, with his Lordship's Answers: and Letters of the Right Hon. William Pitt to his late Majesty, with his Majesty's Answers, previous to the Dissolution of the Ministry in 1801. 4to. pp. 45. 8s. London: Murray. 1827.

2. A Letter on the Coronation Oath. Second Edition. With Notice of recently published Letters from the late King to the late Lord Kenyon, &c. By Charles Butler, Esq. 8vo. pp. 15. London: Murray.

1827.

THE Catholics and the Dissenters owe an incalculable debt of gratitude to Lord Kenyon, for the publication of the correspondence which we have now before us, through the medium of the Rev. Dr. Phillpots. Both his lordship, and his eminent and learned coadjutor, intended, we suspect, to silence for ever the petitions of those numerous and deeply aggrieved portions of our countrymen for the restoration of their civil rights, by unfolding the authentic record of the obstacles which existed against them in the mind of the late king, arising out of his conception of the obligations imposed by the coronation oath. But the inferences to which these letters necessarily and directly lead, instead of militating in any manner against the claims of those petitioners, tend on the contrary, to afford them new strength, and to place them upon higher grounds than they had ever found before.

"Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat."

Had we not the most unquestionable evidence of the_opinions entertained on the subject of religious disabilities by Dr. Phillpots, and by the noble lord who has enabled him to lay these letters before the world, we should have concluded, that the object of the publication was to advance the good cause of freedom. By what fortunate fatuity they have been induced to adopt a measure, that renders their political party utterly desperate, and completely destroys some of the most powerful resources of argument, or rather of prejudice, upon which they had long depended, we are at a loss to divine. It bears about it all the marks of that involuntary homage to truth and virtue, which is sometimes extorted from criminals of the deepest dye. It is one of the most unequivocal signs we have yet seen of that great revolution, according to the eternal order of justice, which is manifestly on the eve of taking place; and which will, at length, accomplish the hopes of all the great and good men who have ever adorned this country, by abrogating the unwise distinctions which they have so eloquently denounced; and by producing that cordial union through the whole mass of the community, which they have so warmly, and long so vainly, advised.

It was a serious misfortune to this empire, that his late majesty, in some moment of loose reflection, guided, perhaps, rather by the

cunning counsels of others, than by the natural lights of his own mind, which were not inconsiderable, should have taken up the erroneous notions that haunted him throughout his political life, concerning the obligations of the coronation oath. It was his sacred duty to inform himself correctly, upon a point that affected the interests of so large a portion of his subjects; and if to some extent he performed that duty, by requiring the assistance of the late lord Kenyon, he was bound to proceed farther, and act upon the enlightened and manly opinions, which that noble and learned person delivered on that memorable occasion. These opinions deserve to be recorded, and to be treasured up as signal proofs of the integrity and independence, which, in modern times, so happily characterise our benches of justice. But, on the sovereign who received them, and who, after perusing them, continued to adhere to his ignorance, or his error, a degree of moral responsibility attached, upon which it would be useless now to dwell. The deferential character of courtly manners forbade then, as it would forbid now, the idea of treating the king's personal wishes, and even his tenacity, upon certain points, otherwise than with tenderness and respect. it is obvious, that this sort of proceeding cannot go on for ever. The house of Hanover was not seated on the throne of England for its own aggrandisement, but for the good of the people; and to say, that the misapprehensions of one individual, even if that individual be the sovereign, should be covered under an inviolable veil of mystery, while they are working the misery of millions of the community, is to propound a doctrine sufficiently polite indeed, but utterly at variance with the sound principles of the constitution.

But

His peculiar notions, about what he called "the implied obligations" of the coronation oath-as if the obligations of an oath ought ever to be other than those which are decidedly and directly expressed in the terms of it-appear to have been first taken up, shortly after Earl Fitzwilliam was abruptly recalled from the government of Ireland. It is matter of history, that that excellent nobleman, during the short period of his administration in that country, held out hopes to the Catholics, that he was the harbinger of their emancipation, and that they looked upon him as the olive branch, sent at last from a country that had always oppressed them. In consequence of the agitation of the question, and of the hopes which were raised upon it in Ireland at that period, the king addressed the following letter to the late lord Kenyon, which, as well as the queries accompanying it, the intelligent reader will perceive not to be written either very clearly, or very grammatically:

" TO THE LORD KENYON.

'Queen's-House, March 7, 1795. 'The question that has been so improperly patronised by the Lord Lieu