What say you, Mr. Speaker ?"-Sure enough,
our Robertson, arriving at the "Bar of the
House of Commons" with such a message,
would have cut an original figure! Not to the
"House of Commons," was this message pro-
perly addressed; but to the English Nation;
which Francia, idiot-like, supposed to be
somehow represented, and made accessible
and addressable in the House of Commons.
It was a strange imbecility in any Dictator!
The Robertson, we find accordingly, did not
take this bale of goods to the bar of the House
of Commons; nay, what was far worse, he did
not, owing to accidents, go to England at all,
or bring any arms back to Francia at all:
hence, indeed, Francia's unreasonable detesta-
tion of him, hardly to be restrained within the
bounds of common politeness! A man who
said he would do, and then did not do, was at
no time a kind of man admirable to Francia.
Large sections of this "Reign of Terror" are
a sort of unmusical sonata, or free duet with
variations, to this text: "How unadmirable a
hide-merchant that does not keep his word!".
"How censurable, not to say ridiculous and
imbecile, the want of common politeness in a
Dictator!"

Francia was a man that liked performance: and sham-performance, in Paraguay as elsewhere, was a thing too universal. What a time of it had this strict man with unreal performers, imaginary workmen, public and private, cleric and laic! Ye Guachos, it is no child's play, casting out those Seven Devils from you!

two Swiss surgeons, what then religion was; and then added, "Be of what religion you like, here: Christians, Jews, Mussulmans,but don't be Atheists."

Equal trouble had Francia with his laic workers, and indeed with all manner of workers; for it is in Paraguay as elsewhere, like priest like people. Francia had extensive barrack-buildings, nay city-buildings, (as we have seen,) arm-furnishings; immensities of work going on, and his workmen had in general a tendency to be imaginary. He could get no work out of them; only a more or less deceptive similitude of work! Masons, socalled, builders of houses did not build, but merely seemed to build; their walls would not bear weather; stand on their bases in high winds. Hodge-razors, in all conceivable kinds, were openly marketed, "which were never meant to shave, but only to be sold!" For a length of time Francia's righteous soul struggled sore, yet unexplosively, with the propensities of these unfortunate men. By rebuke, by remonstrance, encouragement, offers of reward, and every vigilance and effort, he strove to convince them that it was unfortunate for a Son of Adam to be an imaginary workman; that every Son of Adam had better make razors which were meant to shave. In vain, all in vain! At length Francia lost patience with them. "Thou wretched Fraction, wilt thou be the ninth part even of a tailor? Does it beseem thee to weave cloth of devil's dust instead of true wool; and cut and sew it as if thou wert not a tailor, but the fraction of a very tailor! I cannot endure every thing!" Francia, in despair, erected his "Workman's Gallows." Yes, that institution of the country did actually exist in Paraguay; men and workmen saw it with eyes. A most remarkable, and on the whole, not unbeneficial institution of society there. Robertson gives us the following scene with the Belt-maker of Assumpcion; which, be it literal, or in part poetic, does, no doubt of it, hold the mirror up to Nature in an altogether true, and surely in a surprising manner:

when the following conversation ensued:

Monastic or other entirely slumberous church-establishments could expect no great favour from Francia. Such of them as seemed incurable, entirely slumberous, he somewhat roughly shook awake, somewhat sternly ordered to begone. Débout canaille fainéante, as his prophet Raynal says; Débout: aux champs, aux ateliers! Can I have you sit here, droning old metre through your nose; your heart asleep in mere gluttony, the while; and all Paraguay a wilderness or nearly so,-the Heaven's blessed sunshine growing mere tangles, lianas, yellow-fevers, rattlesnakes, and "In came, one afternoon, a poor shoemaker, jaguars on it? Up, swift, to work,--or mark with a couple of grenadiers' belts, neither acthis governmental horsewhip, what the crack cording to the fancy of the Dictator. 'Sentiof it is, what the cut of it is like to be!-In-nel,'-said he,-and in came the Sentinel; curable, for one class, seemed archbishops, bishops, and such like; given merely to a sham-warfare against extinct devils. At the crack of Francia's terrible whip they went, dreading what the cut of it might be. A cheap worship in Paraguay, according to the humour of the people, Francia left; on condition that it did no mischief. Wooden saints and the like ware, he also left sitting in their niches no new ones, even on solicitation, would he give a doit to buy. Being petitioned to provide a new patron saint for one of his new fortifications once, he made this answer: "O people of Paraguay, how long will you continue idiots? While I was a Catholic I thought as you do; but I now see there are no saints but good cannons that will guard our frontiers !"* This also is noteworthy. He inquired of the

* Rengger.

"Dictator :- Take this bribonazo (a very favourite word of the Dictator's, and which being interpreted, means 'most impertinent scoundrel') take this bribonazo to the gibbet over the way; walk him under it half-a-dozen times: and now,' said he, turning to the trembling shoemaker, 'bring me such another pair of belts, and instead of walking under the gallows, we shall try how you can swing upon it.' "Shoemaker:Please your excellency I have done my best."'

"Dictator: Well, bribon, if this be your best, I shall do my best to see that you never again mar a bit of the state's leather. The belts are of no use to me; but they will do very well to hang you upon the little framework which the grenadier will show you.'

"Shoemaker:-God bless your excellency, the Lord forbid! I am your vassal, your

|

slave: day and night have I served, and will
serve my lord; only give me two days more to
prepare the belts; y por el alma de un triste za-
patéro, (by the soul of a poor shoemaker,) I
will make them to your excellency's liking.'
"Dictator:- Off with him, sentinel!'
"Sentinel :- Venga, bribon: come along,
you rascal.'

"Shoemaker:- Senor Excelentisimo: This very night I will make the belts according to your excellency's pattern.'

"Dictator :—'Well, you shall have till the morning; but still you must pass under the gibbet: it is a salutary process, and may at once quicken the work and improve the workmanship.'

"Sentinel:- Vamonos, bribon; the supreme commands it.'

"Off was the shoemaker marched : he was, according to orders, passed and repassed under the gibbet, and then allowed to retire to his stall."

He worked there with such an alacrity and sibylline enthusiasm, all night, that his belts on the morrow were without parallel in South America; and he is now, if still in this life, Belt-maker general to Paraguay, a prosperous man; grateful to Francia and the gallows, we may hope, for casting certain of the seven devils out of him!

lished; he has detached it from the other houses in the city, by interposing wide streets. Here he lives, with four slaves, a little negro, one male and two female mulattoes, whom he treats with great mildness. The two males 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. So soon as he rises, the negro brings a chafing-dish, a kettle, and a pitcher of water; the water is made to boil there. The Dictator then prepares, with the greatest possible care, his maté, or Paraguay tea. Having taken this, he walks under the interior colonnade that looks upon the court, and smokes a cigar, which he first takes care to unroll, in order to ascertain that there is nothing dangerous in it, though it is his own sister who makes up his cigars for him. At six o'clock comes the barber, an illwashed, ill-clad mulatto, given to drink too; but the only member of the faculty whom he trusts in. If the Dictator is in good humour, he chats with the barber; 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 steps out, in his dressing-gown. of printed calico, to the outer colonnade, an open space with pillars, Such an institution of society would evi- which ranges all round the building: here he dently not be introducable, under that simple walks about, receiving at the same time such form, in our old-constituted European coun- persons as are admitted to an audience. Totries. Yet it may be asked of constitutional wards seven, he withdraws to his room, where persons in these times, By what succedaneum he remains till nine; the officers and other they mean to supply the want of it, then? In functionaries then come to make their reports, a community of imaginary workmen, how and receive his orders. At eleven o'clock, the can you pretend to have any government, or fiel del fecho (principal secretary) brings the social thing whatever, that were real? Cer-papers which are to be inspected by him, and tain ten-pound franchisers, with their "tre-writes from his dictation till noon. mendous cheers" are invited to reflect on all the officers retire, and Dr. Francia sits down this. With a community of quack workmen, to table. His dinner, which is extremely it is by the law of Nature impossible that frugal, he always himself orders. When the other than a quack government can be got to cook returns from market, she deposits her exist. Constitutional or other, with ballot-provisions at the door of her master's room; boxes or with none, your society in all its the Doctor then comes out, and selects what he phases, administration, legislation, teaching, wishes for himself. After dinner he takes his preaching, praying, and writing periodicals siesta. On awakening, he drinks his maté, and per sheet, will be a quack society; terrible to smokes a cigar, with the same precautions as live in, disastrous to look upon. Such an in- in the morning. From this till four or five, he stitution of society, adapted to our European occupies himself with business, when the ways, seems pressingly desirable. O Guachos, escort to attend him on his promenade arrives. South-American and European, what a busi- The barber then enters and dresses his hair, ness is it, casting out your seven devils!— while his horse is getting ready. During his ride, the Doctor inspects the public works, and the barracks, particularly those of the cavalry, where he has had a set of apartments prepared for his own use. While riding, though surrounded by his escort, he is armed with a sabre, and a pair of double-barrelled pocket-pistols. He returns home about nightfall, and sits down I have already said that Doctor Francia, so to study till nine; then he goes to supper, soon as he found himself at the head of affairs which consists of a roast pigeon and a glass took up his residence in the habitation of the of wine. If the weather be fine, he again former Governors of Paraguay. This edifice, walks in the outer colonnade, where he often which is one of the largest in Assumpcion, remains till a very late hour. At ten o'clock was erected by the Jesuits, a short time before he gives the watchword. On returning into their expulsion, as a house of retreat for laymen, the house, he fastens all the doors himself." who devoted themselves to certain spiritual Francia's brother was already mad. Francia exercises instituted by Saint Ignatius. This banished this sister by-and-by, because she had structure the Dictator repaired and embel-employed one of his grenadiers, one of the

But perhaps the reader would like to take a view of Dr. Francia in the concrete, there as he looks and lives; managing that thousandsided business for his Paraguenos, in the time of Surgeon Rengger? It is our last extract, or last view of the Dictator, who must hang no longer on our horizon here:

At noon

public government's soldiers, on some errand of her own. Thou lonely Francia!

*

gether by this Editor, to publish his Narrative, with a due running shriek.

་

Francia's escort of cavalry used to strike Francia's treatment of Artigas, his old enemy, men with the flat of their swords," much more the bandit and firebrand, reduced now to beg assault them with angry epithets, if they shelter of him, was good; humane, even digneglected to salute the Dictator as he rode out. nified. Francia refused to see or treat with Both he and they, moreover, kept a sharp eye such a person, as he had ever done; but for assassins; but never found any, thanks readily granted him a place of residence in the perhaps to their watchfulness. Had Francia interior, and "thirty piastres a month till he been in Paris!-At one time, also, there arose died." The bandit cultivated fields, did chariannoyance in the Dictatorial mind from idle table deeds, and passed a life of penitence, for crowds gazing about his Government House, his few remaining years. His bandit followers, and his proceedings there. Orders were given who took to plundering again, says M. Rengger, that all people were to move on, about their" were instantly seized and shot." affairs, straight across this government espla- On the other hand, that anecdote of Francia's nade; instructions to the sentry, that if any per- dying father-requires to be confirmed! It son paused to gaze, he was to be peremptorily seems, the old man, who, as we saw, had long bidden, Move on!-and if he still did not move, since quarrelled with his son, was dying, and to be shot with ball-cartridge. All Paraguay men wished to be reconciled. Francia “ was busy; moved on, looking to the ground, swift as pos--what was in it ?-could not come." A second sible, straight as possible, through those pre- still more pressing message arrives: "The carious spaces; and the affluence of crowds old father dare not die unless he sees his son; thinned itself almost to the verge of solitude. fears he shall never enter heaven, if they be not One day, after many weeks or months, a human reconciled."- -"Then let him enter !" said figure did loiter, did gaze in the forbidden Francia; "I will not come!"* If this anecground: "Move on!" cried the sentry, sharply; dote be true, it is certainly, of all that are in -no effect: "Move on!" and again none. circulation about Dr. Francia, by far the worst. Alas, the unfortunate human figure was an In- If Francia, in that death-hour, could not fordian, did not understand human speech, stood give his poor old father, whatsoever he had, or merely gaping interrogatively,-whereupon a could in the murkiest, sultriest imagination be shot belches forth at him, the whewing of conceived to have done against him, then let winged lead; which luckily only whewed, and no man forgive Dr. Francia! But the accuracy did not hit! The astonishment of the Indian of public rumour, in regard to a Dictator who must have been great, his retreat-pace rapid. has executed forty persons, is also a thing that As for Francia he summoned the sentry with can be guessed at. To whom was it, by name hardly suppressed rage, "What news, Amigo?" and surname, that Francia delivered this extraThe sentry quoted "your Excellency's order;" ordinary response? Did the man make, or Francia cannot recollect such an order; com- can he now be got to make, affidavit of it, to mands now, that at all events such order credible articulate-speaking persons resident on this earth? If so, let him do it for the sake of the psychological sciences.

cease.

One last fact more. Our lonesome Dictator, living among Guachos, had the greatest pleasure, it would seem, in rational conversation,

kind of intelligent human creature, when such could be fallen in with, which was rarely. He would question you with eagerness about the ways of men in foreign places, the properties of things unknown to him; all human interest and insight was interesting to him. Only persons of no understanding being near him for most part, he had to content himself with silence, a meditative cigar and cup of maté. O Francia, though thou hadst to execute forty persons, I am not without some pity for thee!

It remains still that we say a word, not in excuse, which might be difficult, but in explanation, which is possible enough, of Francia's unforgivable insult to human science in the person of M. Aimé Bonpland. M. Aimé Bon--with Robertson, with Kengger, with any pland, friend of Humboldt, after much botanical wandering, did, as all men know, settle himself in Entre Rios, an Indian or Jesuit country close on Francia, now burnt to ashes by Artigas; and there set up a considerable establishment for the improved culture of Paraguay tea. Botany? Why, yes,-and perhaps commerce still more. "Botany" exclaims Francia: "It is shopkeeping agriculture, and tends to prove fatal to my shop. Who is this extraneous individual? Artigas could not give him right to Entre Rios; Entre Rios is at least as much mine as Artigas's! Bring him to me!" Next night, or In this manner, all being yet dark and void next, Paraguay soldiers surround M. Bon- for European eyes, have we to imagine that pland's tea establishment; gallop M. Bonpland the man Rodriguez Francia passed, in a reover the frontiers, to his appointed village in mote, but highly remarkable, not unquestionthe interior; root out his tea-plants; scatter able or inquestioned manner, across the his four hundred Indians, and we know the confused theatre of this world. For some rest! Hard-hearted Monopoly refusing to thirty years, he was all the government his listen to the charmings of Public Opinion or native Paraguay could be said to have. For Royal-Society presidents, charm they never so some six-and-twenty years he was express wisely! M. Bonpland, at full liberty some Sovereign of it; for some three, or some two time since, resides still in South America,-years, a Sovereign with bared sword, stern as and is expected by the Robertsons, not alto- Rhadamanthus: through all his years, and

THE END.