subsistence, retards the progress of nations toward civilization. Under so mild and uniform a climate, the only urgent want of man is that of food. It is the feeling of this want only which excites him to labour; and we may easily conceive, why in the midst of abundance, beneath the shade of the plantain and bread-fruit tree, the intellectual faculties unfold themselves less rapidly than under a rigorous sky, in the region of corn, where our race is in a perpetual struggle with the elements. When we take a general survey of countries inhabited by agricultural nations, we observe, that cultivated lands are either separated by forests, or immediately touch each other; not only according to the growth of the population, but the choice of alimentary plants. In Europe, we judge of the number of the inhabitants by the extent of the cultivation: under the tropics, on the contrary, in the warmest and most humid parts of South America, very populous provinces appear almost deserted; because man, in order to find nourishment, cultivates but a small number of acres.

These

circumstances, highly worthy of attention, modify at the same time the physical appearance of the country, and the character of its inhabitants, giving a peculiar physiognomy to both -something wild and uncultivated, which belongs to nature, the primitive type of which has not yet been altered by art. Without neigh

bours, almost unconnected with the rest of mankind, each family of settlers forms a separate tribe. This insulated state arrests or retards the progress toward civilization, which advances only in proportion as society becomes more numerous, and its connexions more intimate and multiplied: but, on the other hand, it is solitude that develops and strengthens in man the sentiment of liberty and independence; and gives birth to that noble pride of character, which has at all times distinguished the Castilian race.

From those causes, the land in the most populous regions of equinoctial America still retains a savage aspect, which is destroyed in the temperate climates by the cultivation of corn. Between the tropics, the agricultural nations occupy less ground; man has there less extended his empire; he may be said to appear, not as an absolute master, who changes at his will the surface of the soil, but as a transient guest, who quietly enjoys the gifts of nature. There, in the neighbourhood of the most populous cities, the land remains studded with forests, or covered with a thick mould never torn up by the plough. Spontaneous plants still predominate by their quantity over cultivated plants, and determine alone the appearance of the landscape. It is probable, that this state of things will change very slowly. If, in our temperate climate, the cultivation of corn contri

butes to throw a dull uniformity upon the land we have cleared, we cannot doubt, that even with an increasing population, the torrid zone will preserve that majesty of vegetable form, those marks of an unsubdued, virgin nature, which render it so attractive, and so picturesque. Thus it is, that, by a remarkable concatenation of physical and moral causes, the choice and production of alimentary plants have an influence on three important objects at once-the association or the isolated state of families, the more or less rapid progress of civilization, and the individual character of the landscape.

SECTION III.

MARRIAGES, AND CHILDREN, IN COLOMBIA.

RELIGION, public opinion, and that spirit of gallantry which distinguishes the nation, all conspire to establish amongst the Spaniards, both in the Old and New World, a partiality for matrimony, which is not otherwise without its particular prerogatives. The smallest indication, for instance, of irregular conduct, is admitted as a proof against a bachelor; whereas, the most indisputable proofs against a married man are generally rejected, unless his lawful wife prefers the complaint.

In Colombia before the Revolution, girls were allowed to be arrived at the period which is commonly called the age of puberty at twelve; and boys, at fourteen years. This was also about the time they thought of marrying. A young man, not destined for the church, who was not married at twenty, began to be thought dilatory; and nothing was more common than to see a young couple, both whose ages when added did not exceed thirty. As soon as nature gave the hint, they sought to gratify her desire in the chaste bands of matrimony. Marriage, they thought, was the seal of manhood. The study of character seldom, however, preceded the conjugal tie. An union for life was formed with as little premeditation, as if it were that of a day. The sympathy of caprice was mistaken for that of passion; a momentary liking for a permanent attachment. This, in a great measure, was to be ascribed to the old laws, which, in this important transaction of human life, upon which depend the happiness or misery of both parties concerned for the remainder of their days, gave too little controul to parents over the inclinations of their children.

In all civilized nations, parents possess an absolute authority over their children till the period fixed by law. England has restricted this period to twenty-one for both sexes. As long as children are minors, they remain in entire dependence on their parents. During

this time, they are allowed to have no will of their own; every engagement which they contract is null; every promise is nugatory. The intention of the legislature by this wise measure was, to subject the morals of youth to a salutary controul, and to put them under the protection of enlightened guardians, capable of discovering the snares that might be laid for their inexperienced age. No one is more entitled or better qualified for the discharge of these delicate and very important duties, than those to whom nature seems to have confidentially assigned them, upon the security of such ties as render the happiness of the pupil as dear to them as their own.

The old laws seem to have supposed, that parents are indifferent with respect to the prosperity of their children. We indeed easily perceive, both from the letter and spirit of these laws, that children were not of age till twentyone, and that till that period the consent of the parents was indispensable to enable them to enter into legal marriage. But a misapplied jurisprudence rendered that disposition abortive; for a little girl at the age of twelve, or stripling boy at fourteen, who talked of entering into the sacred bands of marriage, asked the consent of his parents as a mere matter of form. If it did not appear to be a suitable match; if the conduct, the morals, the education of the beloved object did not promise a