ern Frontier; and eleven Compañias sueltas, (local corps of infantry and cavalry) distributed upon different points of the coast; the first consists of 3,317 men in all; the second of 1,120. With those previously enumerated, they make a total of 22,788 regular troops, now under arms, as specified in the accompanying table, (No. 1,) taken from the official report of this year.
The Milicia Activa, or Militia on actual service, consists of 9,373 men, divided into four battalions in the Interior,—four upon the Coasts, and fifteen Presidial Companies. (Vide Table 2.) This force can be augmented, at pleasure, to 36,167 men, who are already enrolled, and disciplined to a certain extent, although allowed to retire to their homes, while not wanted: (Vide Table 1.) A similar regulation is adopted, though to a less extent, with the Troops of the line; so that as long as the country is not menaced with actual hostility from without, the War establishment, although nominally kept up, is attended with, (comparatively) but little positive expense.
The Estado-Mayor-General, which seems to unite the duties of the Quarter-master General's Office, with the more scientific branches of the department of Engineers, has been occupied, since its creation in September, 1823, in making military surveys,—preparing a general plan of defence, in the event of an invasion, determining, astronomically, the position of the most important points, laying the foun-
