VENEZUELA.

(REPÚBLICA DE VENEZUELA.)

Constitution and Government.

The

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. 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 (1885) there are 24 Senators and 52 Representatives. President of the Republic.-General Homogene Lopez, appointed

October 1887.

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 manifestations.

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 tor girls (432 pupils), and 1,787 schools (1,232 Federal), with 94,561 pupils. There are, besides, a polytechnic and a technical school. In 1887-88 the sum of 3,343,992 bolivares was set down by Government for 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. For 1886-87 the estimates of revenue and expenditure were made to balance at 27,635,000 bolivares, and for 1887-88 at 27,695,000 bolivares. Of the expenditure in the estimates for 1887-88, 4,234,320 bolivares are for the public debt, 4,529,908 for public works, 3,343,992 for public instruction, and 2,362,704 for army and navy.

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. Up to 1887 it has been stated that the service of the debt has proceeded satisfactorily. At the end of 1886 the outstanding New Consolidated bonds amounted to 2,680,8501.

The standing army of the republic is composed of 6 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 boundaries between Venezuela and British Guiana are not defined, and are at present (December 1887) under dispute. 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 popu

lation of each of the new states and territories according to an official estimate published in 1884 :

An estimate of 1886 gives the population as 2,198,320.

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 immigration and emigration, both small, nearly balance each other.

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, Maracaibo 31,921, Barquisimelo 28,918, Tocuyo 15,383, Maturin 14,478, La Guayra 14,000.

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 ending June 30, 1886, the total imports were of the value of 47,168,277 bolivares, and the total exports of the value of 82,304,289 bolivares. The imports came to the value of 15,296,873 bolivares from the United States, 9,960,105 from Great Britain, 9,273,379 from France, and 8,949,085 from Germany. The exports were sent chiefly to Germany, the United States, and France. The staple article of export from Venezuela consists of coffee, the value of which in 1886 was 35,733,423 bolivares. The export of cacao was valued at 8,447,986 bolivares in 1886. The coasting trade of 1884 was valued at 59,568,000 bolivares; of hides, 6,573,058 bolivares; gold in bars, 2,036,043 bolivares; copper ore, 2,902,150 bolivares. The exports from the port of Ciudad Bolivar alone in 1886 were valued at 23,024,382 bolivares, the imports in 1886 being valued at 7,460,243 bolivares. At Puerto Caballo the imports in 1886 were valued at 17,078,920 bolivares, and exports at 15,665,731 bolivares. At La Guayra the imports in 1885 were valued at 26,850,000 bolivares, and exports at 20,662,600 bolivares; the exports from Maracaibo in 1885 were valued at 12,734,492 bolivares.

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 1882 to 1886:

The chief article of export from Venezuela to Great Britain in 1886 was copper ore, of the value of 101,7671. In 1880 the cocoa exported to Great Britain was valued at 20,7397., in 1882 at 4,315l., in 1883 at 8477., in 1884 at 3,1917., in 1885 at 4,0801., in 1886 2,9071.; coffee in 1880 was 15,553l., in 1884 6927., in 1885 7467., in 1886 1,4157.; dye-woods exported in 1886 were valued at 10,7237., and dye-stuffs 11,0967. The imports from Great Britain comprise cotton and linen manufactures, the former of the value of 266,5897., and the latter of 22,7577., in the year 1886; besides woollens, 16,731.; jute goods, 13,0861.; iron, wrought and unwrought, 44,175l.; machinery, 23,7051.

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 11,200,000l. The most important product is coffee, the value of which in 1884 is given as 2,251,0007.; sugar, 1,537,2007. ; corn, 1,200,000l.; cocoa, 599,6007. 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 the industry.

In 1886, 78 vessels of 29,752 tons entered, and 91 vessels of 34,091 tons cleared, the port of Ciudad Bolivar.

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 from 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. In 1886, 218,000 ounces of gold were exported from Ciudad Bolivar alone; in 1884 it was 233,935 ounces, and in 1885 172,037 ounces.

There are (1884) 102 miles of railway in operation and 270 under construction. There were 2,800 miles of telegraphs in 1886, and 80 offices. There are 162 post-offices. In 1885-86 there were conveyed 2,734,576 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.-[Diplomatic relations suspended December 1887.]

Consul.-N. G. Burch.

2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN VENEZUELA.

Minister and Consul-General.-[Diplomatic relations suspended December 1887.]

Money, Weights, and Measures.

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