Reports from Uruguay, 1894-1896 Manuscript:  A hardbacked L...

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€500 - €700

Reports from Uruguay, 1894-1896

Manuscript:  A hardbacked Letter-Book containing carbon copies of monthly reports from the London Times reporter in Montevideo to his editor from 2 May 1894 to 14 December 1896, commenting in detail on politics, personalities, trade, finances etc. The writer during most of this period was O. Schoones, succeeded on 7 May 1896 by John Harvey (from Malin Hall, Co. Donegal), who continued the series until his return to Ireland at the end of the year. Pp 1-212 plus several loose letters; rest of volume blank.
Uruguay at this time had moved from military to civilian rule, but the policy of “collectivism” enabled President Juan Idiarte Borda to ensure that control of government remained within a cabal of the ruling Colorado party, to the exclusion of the opposition Blanco (National) party. At the same time, the country was rapidly modernising, with improved education, the development of the port of Montevideo, and the establishment of a state bank.
These letters vividly chart the wobbly progress of a Latin-American state, still unsure of its course in a changing world (there was a Blanco uprising in March of the following year, and in August President Idiarte was assassinated).  As a Manuscript Ledger, w.a.f. (1)