MONTE VIDEO, _Jan. 20, 1852_.
The continuation of the South American line of steamers is maintained
by the Prince, of only four hundred tons burden, which takes the mails
and passengers from Rio Janeiro to this place and Buenos Ayres, one
hundred and twenty miles further up the river. It is always agreeable
to meet with old acquaintances, and in this instance I was surprised
to find that our captain had formerly been in command of a mail packet
from St. Thomas to La Guayra, which had carried me down to Venezuela.
Our passage, of something more than one thousand miles, was made in a
little over four days.
Monte Video lies at the north of the Rio de la Plata, one of the
largest rivers in South America after the Amazon; it was discovered
in 1515 by Juan Diaz de Soles, who proceeded as far as 34° 23´ south
latitude, but was killed, as were also his crew of four men. A few
years later Sebastian Cabot, who went to discover the Straits of
Magellan, and penetrated as high as the conflux of the Parana and
Paraguay, some two hundred leagues, had a fight with the Indians, and
succeeded in taking their treasures of silver from Peru; and supposing
the supply inexhaustible gave the stream the name which it now bears,
Silver River. It is over a hundred and fifty miles wide at the mouth,
but at Buenos Ayres it is reduced to forty. The influence of this
formidable river is seen by the water being colored more than four
hundred miles at sea. The position of this port is desirable on account
of its ready access and geographical position; it has a temperate
climate, and moderately dry winds from the land to counteract the
humidity of the sea air. It once had a population of seventy thousand,
which has been reduced to twenty-five thousand by a nine years’ siege,
which was successfully resisted with the aid of the French, who have
paid for some years annually forty thousand dollars per month to
sustain the place against the besieging army of Oribe, at the head
of the Buenos Ayrean forces of the Dictator Rosas. I found that the
town had suffered severely, particularly in the deserted houses and
crumbling walls; the pavements of the streets are badly broken up, and
everything had the appearance of desolation; but the siege being raised
last October, much life and activity have since been displayed in
repairs, and the blockade has been removed from vessels proceeding to
Buenos Ayres.
Oribe, the tool of Rosas, has now retired to his quinta, or farm-house,
and is said to be poor. His army was headed by General Urquizas, in
connexion with the allied forces of Brazil, and those of the provinces
of Entre Rios and Uruguay, and they are now proceeding to “beard
the lion in his den,” having crossed the river Parana, on their way
to Buenos Ayres by land, while the Brazilian fleet are occupying
the river. The French have eleven vessels of war now in port, and
in the town are quartered fifteen hundred troops, reminding one of
a garrisoned town in France. Brazil has now taken upon herself the
charges of the war, and relieved the French; she has a large number of
German troops employed, and the Monte Videans feel sanguine that with
an army of thirty thousand men on a good war footing, they will be
able to overcome any force that the tyrant Rosas can produce, although
his infantry and cavalry are estimated at from twenty-five to forty
thousand, by far the greatest force ever brought together in South
America.
The houses here have mostly azoteas, or flat roofs, which afford a
fine promenade for the ladies, who have the advantage of seeing all
that passes over the parapet. Notwithstanding they have suffered so
severely, and have made such sacrifices, many families having been
beggared, they support an opera which is well attended, and the fair
sex looks as graceful and charming as in most Spanish towns.