108 MEXICO. ranee with respect to each other, the New States commenced their contest for freedom without the advantage of any pre- vious combination, or concert. Even at the present day, the natives of Mexico and Chile, — of Buenos Ayres and Bogota, — know as httle of each other, as the Neapolitan peasant and the Lapland boor ; and, in most cases, England would present the only medium of com- munication between them.* At the commencement of the Revolution, their estrangement was still greater, and it may be questioned whether the fact of the existence of some of the New States was at all generally known to the rest. With each other's resources, and means of defence, they certainly had no acquaintance. Each therefore, individually, pursued its object, unconnected with the rest ; and each was obliged to cope, singly, with whatever force Spain could bring to bear against it. In addition to this, they had internal as well as external enemies to contend with : the old Spaniards, (known, in the annals of the Revolution, by the names of GachupTnes, Godos, Patriotas, and various other designations,) distributed through- out the possessions of Ultramar, — wealthy, powerful, and connected by intermarriages with the most influential families amongst the Creoles themselves, — were a check to all their operations. Where they did not openly oppose, they sowed the seeds of discord amongst the leaders of the Independent cause : while, from their intimate acquaintance with the resources of the country, they were enabled, both by their counsels, and the
- A letter from Buenos Ayres to Mexico, would be sent by the double
line of packets now established between London and Rio de la Plata, and London and Veracruz. And, although there may be, once or twice in the year, a direct intercourse between Mexico and Peru, or Chil^, by the Pacific, letters, at all other times; would be forwarded by the English mail.
