VENEZUELA.

(REPÚBLICA DE VENEZUELA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE republic of Venezuela was formed in 1830, by secession from the other members of the Free-state founded by Simon Bolivar within the limits of the Spanish colony of New Granada. The charter of fundamental laws actually in force, dating from 1830, and re-proclaimed, with alterations, on the 28th March 1864 and April 1881, is designed on the model of the constitution of the United States of America, but with considerably more independence secured to provincial and local government. The provinces, or states, of the republic have each their own legislature and executive, as well as their own budgets, and judiciary officers, and the main purpose of their alliance is that of common defence. At the head of the central executive government stands a President, elected for the term of two years, exercising his functions through six ministers, and a Federal Council of sixteen members. The Federal Council is appointed by the Congress every two years; the Council choose a President, who is also President of the Republic. The President has no veto power. The legislation for the whole republic is vested in a Congress of two Houses, called the Senate (three senators for each of the eight States and the Federal District), and the House of Representatives (one to every 35,000 of population). The Senators are elected by the legislature of each State, and the Representatives by popular, direct, and public election.' The Congresses of States are elected by universal suffrage. Both the Senate and the Representatives are elected for four years. At present (1884) there are 24 Senators and 52 Representatives.

President of the Republic.-General Joaquin Crespo, elected President April 1884.

Since the year 1847, the republic has suffered greatly from intestine dissensions, leading to an almost continuous civil war, through the struggles of the rival parties of the Federalists and Confederalists, the former desiring a strong central government, and the latter the greatest possible independence of the separate States.

The Roman Catholic is the State religion, but there is toleration of all others, though they are not permitted any external manifest

ations.

In 1870, education was made compulsory in Venezuela, at which time only 10 per cent. of the population could read and write. There are (1884) two universities, 19 federal colleges (with 2 528 students),

five normal schools (208 students), 14 private colleges (699 pupils), seven national schools for girls (432 pupils), and 1,787 schools (1,232 federal), with 94,561 pupils. There are, besides, a polytechnic and a technical school. In 1883 the sum of 100,000l. was spent by Government on public instruction.

Revenue, Public Debt, and Army.

The chief source of public revenue at the disposal of the central Government is that of customs duties, which produced 783,2521. in the year ending June 30, 1883. About 60 per cent. of the expenditure is for general accumulation and the remainder for the service of the debt and public works. The total revenue in the same year amounted to 1,195,025., and the expenditure to 1,064,0811. In 1882-3, the total income was 1,159,500l., and the expenditure officially stated to be 1,000,9791. The principal branch of expenditure is for 'general administration.' The incomes of the various states and territories are estimated at a total of 540,000l.

The public debt is officially stated to consist of an internal debt, which, in 1883, was 1,446,4917., consolidated at 5 per cent. interest, and an internal 'consolidable' debt without interest; also a foreign debt, which, with the unpaid interest of several years, had grown to 10,869,563/. in 1878, when the Government resumed the payment of interest. New consolidated bonds were issued to the amount of 4,000,000l. on January 1, 1881, in substitution of all pre-existing internal and external bonds; 2,750,000l. to represent the external bonds, bearing 3 per cent. for two years and after that 4 per cent. At the end of 1884 the outstanding external debt amounted to 2,721,6167.

The standing army of the republic is composed of 8 battalions of infantry, 1 company of cavalry, and 1 of artillery; in all 2,545 officers and men. Besides the regular troops, there is a national militia in which every citizen, from the 18th to the 45th year inclusive, must be enrolled. Recent intestine wars were chiefly carried on by the militia, which in times of civil war has been increased to 60,000 men. The number of citizens able for military service according to law was 350,000 in 1884.

Population, Trade, and Industry.

The area of Venezuela is estimated to embrace 439,120 English square miles, and to contain a population of 2,075,245 souls. Until 1881 Venezuela was divided into twenty-one states and their territories; but in that year a re-division was made into eight large states, each subdivided into sections or districts, corresponding to

the old states, besides the Federal district, two national settlements and eight territories. The following table gives the area and population of each of the new states and territories according to an official estimate published in 1884 :—

The population of the territory of Caura is included in that of the state of Bolivar, and of Armisticio and Delta in Bolivar, Zamora, and Los Andes. According to the census of 1881 the population was 2,075,245, 1,005,518 males, 1,069,727 females. This showed an increase in the population over the census of 1873 of 291,051. The number of foreign residents in 1881 was 34,916, about onethird Spanish, 4,041 English, 3,237 Italians, 3,206 Dutch, 2,186 French, 1,171 German, 8,729 Colombians.

The report of the British Minister for 1881 states that in the gold districts of Orinoco are whole villages of British subjects from Trinidad and Jamaica, amounting to upwards of 6,000 persons. The population of Carácas, the capital, in 1881 was 55,638, Valencia, 36,145, Barquisimelo, 28,918.

The foreign commerce of Venezuela quadrupled within the last few years, through the development of the country's vast agricultural and mineral resources. A report of the British Minister at

Caracas states that the Venezuelan gold-fields are the richest, though at present not the most productive, in the world.

During the year 1883 the total imports were of the value of 3,450,6267., and the total exports of the value of 3,944,0451. The imports came to the extent of nearly one-fourth from Great Britain, and the remainder chiefly from the United States, France, and Germany. The exports were sent chiefly to Germany, the United States, and France. The staple article of export from Venezuela consists in coffee, the value of which in 1883 was 1,986,0861. Coffee culture is, however, declining, partly from want of efficient means of conveyance to the coast. The import duties of 1882-83 amounted to 783,2521.

The total value of the exports of Venezuela to Great Britain, and of the imports of British produce and manufactures, was as follows in each of the five years 1879 to 1883:

The chief article of export from Venezuela to Great Britain in 1883 was copper ore, of the value of 214,1917. In 1880 the cocoa exported to Great Britain was valued at 20,739., in 1881 at 10,6747., in 1882 at 4,3157., and in 1883 at 8471.; coffee in 1880 was 15,553l., in 1882 3757., and in 1883 1,7687.; dye-woods exported in 1883 were valued at 23,4761., and dye stuffs 19,770 The imports from Great Britain comprise mainly cotton and linen manufactures, the former of the value of 458,8721., and the latter of 28,6717., in the year 1883; besides woollens 23,1581.; iron, wrought and unwrought, 21,4881.; machinery, 236,2001.

Agriculture is the most important branch of public industry; in 1884, 375,820 people were occupied in it, and the annual value was estimated at 11,200,0007. The most important product is coffee, the value of which in 1884 is given as 2,251,000.; sugar, 1,537,2001; corn, 1,200,000l.; cocoa, 599,600l. In 1884 there were 852,500 acres of land under cultivation. In 1883 there were 2,926,733 cattle, 3,490,563 goats and sheep, 291,603 horses, 906,467 mules and asses, and 976,500 swine. The total annual value of the products of breeding was estimated at 7,704,4257. in 1884; 200,000 persons are engaged in breeding.

W

In 1883 the commerce was carried on in 2,460 vessels, of which 240 were North American, 224 British, 204 French, 262 Spanish, and 1,250 (mostly small sailing vessels) Venezuelan. In 1883 Venezuela had 2,492 vessels of 24,924 tons, 20 of 2,139 tons being

steamers.

Both iron and copper are abundant in various parts of the republic, but are comparatively neglected for want of means to work them. Gold is also worked, and considerable quantities of coal are also said to exist, but at present unworked. The total value of the mineral products in 1884 has been estimated at 890,4107.; gold 648,6767., and the rest mostly copper.

There are (1884) 102 miles of railway in operation and 270 under construction. There were 1,145 miles of telegraphs in 1884, and 40 offices. There are 160 post-offices. In 1883 there were conveyed 2,673,404 letters and parcels. In 1880 Venezuela joined the General Postal Union.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. OF VENEZUELA IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. · General Guzman Blanco.

Secretary. Dr. Rafael Seijas.

Consul.-N. G. Burch.

2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN VENEZUELA.

Minister and Consul-General.-Frederick Robert St. John, appointed December 24, 1884.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Venezuela, and the British equivalents, are:—

MONEY.

The above are the old weights and measures in general use, but the legal ones are those of the French metric system.

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