The increase of population by immigration has amounted for the last few years to above 10,000 per annum. In 1863, the number of immigrants was 10,408; in 1864, it was 11,682, and in 1865, it was 11,767. Rather more than one-half of the immigrants were Italians, next to whom natives of Spain and of France were most numerous. More than 70,000 Italians are settled in the province of Buenos Ayres alone, of whom near 40,000 in the capital. The number of Spaniards in the republic is reported at 32,000; and of French at 25,000. To ascertain correctly the number of inhabitants, hitherto known only by estimates, it was ordered by the legislature in the session of 1869 that a general census of the population should be taken on September 15 and 16, 1869. Trade and Industry. The value of the imports and exports of the Argentine Confederation passing through the port of Buenos Ayres, was as follows in the two years 1865 and 1866 : The imports into the Confederation consist chiefly of manufactured cotton and woollen goods, machinery, coal, and iron, while the ex ports are made up to the amount of more than one-half by the single article wool. In 1865, the quantity of wool exported was 115,842,430 pounds, of a declared value of 2,378,2511. sterling. Other exports, besides wool, are ox and cow hides, sheep skins, salt meat, horse hair, and ostrich feathers. The commercial intercourse between the Argentine Confederation and the United Kingdom is shown in the subjoined tabular statement, which gives the total value of the exports of the Confederation to Great Britain and Ireland, and of the imports of British and Irish produce and manufactures in each of the five years 1864 to 1868 : Years Exports from the Argentine Imports of British Home The two staple articles of Argentine exports to the United Kingdom are hides and wool, the former amounting to 440,2231., and the latter to 124,8277. in 1868. The imports of British produce into the Argentine Confederation consist chiefly of cotton and woollen manufactures, the value of the former amounting to 667,4317., and of the latter to 250,4227. in 1868. A network of railways, constructed mainly at the expense of the State, has been in progress for several years. The following statement gives the names of the various lines, amount of capital subscribed, and of interest guaranteed by the Government:— Nearly the whole of the capital for the construction of the lines already opened was subscribed in England. Money, Weights, and Measures. The money, weights, and measures of the Argentine Confederation, and the British equivalents, are as follows: Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning the Argentine Confederation. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Memoria del Ministerio del interior de la Republica Arjentina presentada al Congreso nacional de 1868. 4. Buenos Aires, 1868. Memoria presentada por el Ministro de estado en el departamento de hacienda al Congreso nacional de 1868. 4. Buenos Aires, 1868. Mensage del poder ejecutivo-presentando las cuentas de inversion al Congreso nacional, 1868. 8. Buenos Aires, 1868. Report by Mr. Francis Clare Ford, British Secretary of Legation, on the Finances, the Trade, and the Resources of the Argentine Confederation, dated Oct. 30, 1866; in Reports by H. M.'s Secretaries of Embassy and Legation.' No. II. 1867. London, 1867. Reports by Mr. M. E. Hollister, U. S. Consul at Buenos Ayres, dated Jan. 9, 1868, and of Mr. W. Wheelwright, U. S. Commercial Agent at Rosario, dated March 5, 1868, on the Trade and Industry of the Argentine Confederation, in Commercial Relations of the United States with Foreign Nations.' 8. Washington, 1868. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Almanaque Agricola, pastoril é industrial de la República Argentine y de Buenos Ayres. 4. Buenos Ayres, 1869. Andree (Karl Theodor), Buenos-Ayres und die Argentinische Republik. 8. Leipzig, 1856. Arcos (Santiago), La Plata. Étude historique. 8. Paris, 1865. Burmeister (Hermann), Reise durch die La-Plata Staaten. 2 vols. 8. Halle, 1861. Colonias de Santa Fé. Su origen, progreso y actual situacion. Con observaciones generales sobre la emigracion à la Republica Argentina. 4. Rosario de Santa Fé, 1864. Dominguez (S.), Historia Argentina. 8. Buenos Ayres, 1862. Hutchinson (Thomas J.), Buenos Ayres and Argentine Gleanings; with Extracts from a Diary of Salado Exploration in 1862 and 1863. 8. London, 1865. Latham (Wilfrid), The States of the River Plate, their Industries and Commerce. 2nd ed. 8. London, 1868. Mannequin (L.), Les Provinces argentines et Buenos Ayres. 8. Paris, 1856. Mitre (Bartolomé), Estudios históricos sobre la Revolucion Argentina. 4. Buenos Ayres, 1864. Moussy (H. de), Description géographique et statistique de la Conféderation Argentine. 2 vols. 8. Paris, 1861. Page (Capt.), Report on the exploration and survey of the river La Plata and tributaries. 4. Washington, 1856. Sarmiento (Domingo Faustino), Life in the Argentine Republic in the Days of the Tyrants. Translated by Mrs. H. Mann. 8. London, 1868. Sastre (Marcos), La educacion popular en Buenos Aires. Memoria presentada al consejo de instruccion pública. 8. Buenos Aires, 1865. Virgilio (Jacopo), Delle migrazioni transatlantiche degli italiani e in especie di quelle dei Liguri alle regioni del Plata, cenni economico statistici. 8. Genova, 1868. BOLIVIA. (REPUBLICA BOLIVIANA.) Constitution and Government. THE Constitution of the republic of Bolivia, drawn up by Simon Bolivar, liberator of the country from the Spanish rule, bears date August 25, 1826; but important modifications of it were added in 1828, 1831, and 1863. By its provisions, the whole executive power is vested in a President, elected for a term of four years; while the legislative authority rests with a Congress of two chambers, called the Senate, and the House of Representatives, both elected by universal suffrage. The President is assisted in his executive functions by a Vice-president, appointed by himself, and a ministry, divided into four departments, of the Interior and Justice; of Finance; of War; and of Education and Public Worship. The ministers are liable to impeachment before Congress. President of the Republic-Captain-General Don Mariano Melgarejo; proclaimed President on the deposition of his predecessor, José Maria de Acha, December 1864; re-proclaimed March 1869, after an unsuccessful attempt at insurrection by a rival candidate to the presidency, General Belzu, head of the government, from March 22 to his execution, March 27, 1869. The fundamental law of the republic, ordering the regular election of the chief of the executive every four years, has seldom been carried out since the presidency of Grand-Marshal Santa-Cruz, who ruled Bolivia from May 1828, till his death, January 20, 1839. Subsequently the supreme power was almost invariably seized by some successful commander, who, proclaimed by the troops, instead of chosen by the people, was compelled to protect his office by armed force against military rivals. The seat of the executive government, formerly at the city of La Paz, capital of the republic, was transferred in 1869 to the fortified town of Oraro. Revenue, Army, and Population. There have been no official reports of the revenue and expenditure of the republic for several years. In 1864, the receipts from |