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STATE ARCHIVES AMD COMMISSARIAT.

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who have to undergo a severe examination in the theory and practice of surveying before being allowed to practise their profession. The chief of the department has a salary of $6,000 a month.

The Department of Schools adjoins the last-mentioned, and is under the charge of Don Manuel J. Peña. Here are deposited the supplies of books and furniture for the State schools. After the fall of Rosas, in 1852, Dr. Vicente Fidel Lopez was named Minister of Instruction, and undertook to re-model the system of education: in October of same year the Department of Schools was established. Don Santiago Estrada is the present Inspector of Schools.

The State Archives are in the same building, under the direction of Don Manuel R. Trelles, assisted by seven clerks: here are kept the valuable records of Buenos Ayres since the Conquest, which throw such light on the history of the Vice-royalty of La Plata and the neighboring countries of Spanish America. Important documents and title-deeds, which belong to Paraguay, Tucuman, the Cuyo provinces, and the Banda Oriental, still remain in this department. Sr. Trelles also publishes a half-yearly volume of statistics referring to the Province of Buenos Ayres: the information at his disposal is so defective, that his efforts are the more creditable. The contents of the archives are 7,500 bundles of documents, 6,167 accountbooks, 8,700 printed books and pamphlets, and a number of periodicals. Since 1857 Señor Trelles has published twenty volumes of ancient records and statistical reports.

The National Statistical Department, situate at 64 Calle Belgrano, is under the direction of Mr. Damian Hudson; this gentleman, who is eminently qualified for the post, is a native of San Juan, and son to an American settler. He compiles the various official returns from the fourteen provinces, which are scattered and imperfect. A national census has been ordered, and will probably be carried out on the wind-up of the Paraguayan war. The Customs' Department publishes its own statistics half-yearly.

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Commissariat-General.-This department was formerly situate in Calle Bolivar, adjoining the Provincial Government-house; it is now located in the National Government-house, Plaza Mayo. The Commissary-General, Don José Luis Amadeo, has to contract for and examine all supplies of provisions, clothing, &c., for the army and navy, as well as for the friendly Indian tribes of Calfucura, Coliqueo, and others on the frontier. Tenders for such supplies must be lodged at this office, which also gives the order for payment when the goods have been duly examined and approved.

PARQUE, CONGRESS HALL, CAPITANIA.

The Parque, or Artillery Magazine, situate in the Plaza Parque, covers an entire «cuadra.» It was founded by the famous patriot Moreno, who served as Minister of War in the epoch of Independence. The collection of guns is more remarkable for antiquity than usefulness, most of them being old bronze pieces of the Spaniards, with quaint inscriptions-«Ultima ratio regum,» «El Rey Carlos me hizo,» &c. Visitors are admitted gratis, and the stranger will be amused to see that smoking is not prohibited: the magazine, however, is said to contain no powder. Cannon balls are piled up in the yard, and the old guns are exposed to the inclemency of the weather: some interesting old cannons are still seen at some of the street corners through town. The powder depots are outside the city, near Palermo. The Parque has seven large store-rooms, in one of which was recently kept one of Krupp's steel guns; there are also five workshops, a hall of arms, and a number of apartments for use of the officials and operatives.

The Congress-hall, in Plaza Mayo, was erected by President Mitre's Government for the first united Argentine parliament on the removal of the metropolis to Buenos Ayres, and inaugurated in May 1864. The front is small and unpretending: the chief entrance,, surmounted by the National arms, consists of three iron gates, opening into a marble portico, and only the members of Congress, public dignitaries, or Foreign Ministers are admitted by this access. The right wing of the building is devoted to the use of the Public Credit Department, and on the left is the entrance for the public to the galleries of the Hall. Congress is composed of Vice-President Alsina, 28 Senators, and 49. Deputies, there being two Senators for each province, and Deputies in the following ratio-Buenos Ayres 12, Cordoba 6, Corrientes 4, Santiago 4, Tucuman 3, Catamarca 3, Salta 3, San Juan 2, Mendoza 2, San Luis 2, Jujuy 2, Rioja 2, Entre Rios 2, Santa Fé 2. The sessions open in the first week of May and close in October, but there is usually an extraordinary session till November to conclude the current business of the year. The Deputies receive a salary of $4,000 s. per annum some of them reside altogether in Buenos Ayres.

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The National Credit Office was organized on 16th November, 1863, and commenced its labors on January 2nd, 1864, the board being composed of Messrs. Lucas Gonzalez, Alejo Arocena, Manuel Zavaleta, José Maria Cantilo, and Martin Estrada, with the following employees: Don Juan Dominguez, secretary; Don Alfonso de Maria, treasurer; Don Ramon Rezabal, bookkeeper; Don Cipriano Quesada, assistant clerk. The accounts immediately

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submitted to their care were the following-1. The Public funds of October 1st, 1860, for $3,000,000. 2. The provisional bonds of October 20th, 1863, for the Paraná bonds and Treasury notes up to 1st April, 1861. 3. The credits admitted by Government as lawfully proceeding from the Paraná floating debt, subsequent to April 1861. 4. The compensation awarded by law of November 1863 for «auxilios» given to Lavalle's army against Rosas. 5. Six per cents awarded by Congress for claims of indemnity. 6. The bonds and coupons given in payment of foreign claims for injuries sustained in the civil wars. 7. The petitions of the widows and relatives of Generals Lavalle, La Madrid, and Paz. The treasurer was to have charge of all funds for payment of coupons and amortization, but not to pay anything without written order from the chairman of the board. All coupons to be paid faithfully within the eight days fixed by law. The bonds were issued in five series, as follows: Serie A, $100Serie B, $600-Serie C, $1,000-Serie D, 2,600-Serie E, $5,000, each having forty coupons annexed, one payable every quarter, and then burned. Whenever a coupon became payable it was necessary to present the whole Bond and have it compared with the corresponding block, which was cut zig-zag. Nevertheless a great forgery was discovered in October, 1868, immediately after President Sarmiento entered office, whereby it appeared that duplicate bonds, signed by the proper authorities, had been regularly admitted and the coupons paid for some years back. It was concluded that in the signing of so many thousand coupons several duplicates were introduced surreptitiously, and the parties suspected of the fraud were no longer in the country, nor was there any proof sufficiently inculpating anyone in particular. The Paraguayan war caused new loans and frequent emissions of Public Funds, all which are specified in the budget for 1869: see section A, page 191.

The Provincial Credit Office, 91 Calle Moreno, was established in 1821. The board consists of six persons named by Government, and an accountant who has a salary of $4,000 a month. The accounts under their charge are as follows:-1. Original issue of six per cent. 28,000,000, and of four per cents. 2,000,000. 2. Issue of 10,000,000 six per cents in September 1856. 3. Issue of 12,000,000 six per cents in July 1858. All these sums are in the paper currency of Buenos Ayres, and the annual interest amounts to $3,821,592m/c, or about £30,500 sterling, besides an amortization or sinking-fund of $630,000 m/c per annum, equivalent to one per cent. Until assumed by the National Treasury in 1864 there were two other debts at the charge of the Province, viz.: that of May 1859, for 20,000,000; and of June 1861 for 24,000,000; the annual interest of both amounting

to $2,640,000m, and the sinking-fund to $920,000. The English loan of 1826, to Buenos Ayres, was also a provincial debt until assumed by the nation in 1864.

The Capitania, or Captain of the Port's office, is situate in Calle Mayo, opposite the English Church, with another entrance by Paseo Julio. The offices are open from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. All foreign vessels arriving from beyond the seas have to send their Bill of Health before being allowed to communicate with the shore: the captains have also to declare on arrival what cargo they bring, to whom consigned, date of departure from home and arrival here; if they bring passengers a list of same must be entered in the Capitania books, and any letters are handed over to the branch Postoffice in this building. If the vessel be Argentine, or belonging to a flag that has no Consul here, all her papers must be lodged at the Capitania. The captains have also to report exactly on the condition of their vessels. Signal flags are used to communicate with the pontoon Castelli in the outer roads. The Capitania has a dungeon for refractory sailors: a guard is always mounted on the Paseo Julio entrance. Colonel Bustillos has a staff of twelve officials and thirty-six sailors, with three state barges: he has recently received jurisdiction over all the Capitanias of the Republic. The branch Post-office receives letters for Montevideo, &c., up to half an hour before sailing of steamer. For any matters before or after hours, apply at the Ayudantia, next the guard-house at the Paseo Julio. No one is allowed to gallop by the Capitania.

MUNICIPALITY, LAW COURTS.

The Municipality, or Corporation, holds its meetings in a saloon over the Policia: its charter dates from October 1854, and it is composed of a President, thirteen members, and twenty-four asuplentes:» each parish furnishes a member, and the «suplentes» are elected to take his place in case of sickness or absence. The Minister of Interior is an ex-officio president, but never attends, the Provincial Government each year naming the Vice-President from among the members. There are two secretaries, eighteen clerks, and three servants. The revenue exceeds $12,000,000 per annum, and is spent in this manner: hospital and lunatic asylum, $2,000,000; serenos, &c., $2,000,000; schools, $1,000,000; scavenger carts, $1,000,000; clerks and fireworks, $1,000,000; paving, &c., $5,000,000. The items of income are-public lottery, $4,000,000; sereno tax, $2,000,000; market stalls, $1,000,000; mataderos, $1,000,000;

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licenses, &c., $4,000,000. Foreigners are sometimes elected to serve on the Board, but they generally resign. The street lighting is done by the Gas Company; there are 1,722 lamps, for which the company levies payment at each house. In the suburbs there are 1,483 oil lamps, belonging to the Municipality. The neglected state of the city is unsusceptible of exaggeration, and each succeeding Board throws all the blame on the preceding one. The Corporation of 1868 was expelled by an indignation meeting of the citizens, who formed a Committee of Public Health in its room; but the Board was reinstated by Government shortly afterwards. A better election of members is hoped for the year 1869.

The Archbishop's Palace is a handsome two story edifice, next the Cathedral the reception hall, in the upper story, is a magnificent apartment, with a bust of Pope Pius IX. and some pictures. The building was completed in April 1862, since when the Archbishop resides here, along with his secretary, chaplain, and three other clergymen.

Courts of Law.-There are the ordinary Courts of Primera Instancia in the Cabildo, where civil and criminal causes are tried: attached to these Courts are the offices of the escribanos or notaries, for all judicial proceedings, transfer of property, &c.: most of the escribanias date back many years, and have records from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, being used as registry offices in all matters of assignment, mortgage, &c. The Tribunal of Commerce is next to the Topographic Department, in Calle Peru; its proceedings are guided by the «Codigo de Comercio» framed for Buenos Ayres. The Superior Tribunal of Justice is composed of ten judges, and sits in the Cabildo, to hear appeals from the ordinary civil, criminal, and commercial Courts: it has immediate jurisdiction over the Justices of Peace in the camp, and has a Fiscal or Attorney-General, two reporters, anotary, and other employees. Each of the Judges has a salary of $6,000 a month. Every Saturday they visit the prisons, to see the prisoners and how their cases stand; but the proceedings of this and the other Courts are so tedious that a reform is much called for. The «Code of the Indies,» and other obsolete Spanish statutes, were hitherto the sole system of procedure; but some new codes have been compiled and will shortly be adopted. In the camp there are three tribunals; one at San Nicolas, north; one at Mercedes, west; and one at Dolores, south: these are often badly attended to, as there are few lawyers in town willing to take such responsibility for a poor remuneration. The High Court of Justice is one of the supreme powers of the State, viz. the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, and the Government cannot interfere in its affairs, which secures to the tribunal perfect liberty of action. The public never attend the hearing of lawsuits, and ́

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