The following is a list of the British mercantile establishments at present existing in Buenos Ayres:—
- Messrs. Brown, Buchanan, and Co. Agents for Lloyd’s.
- Dickson, Montgomery, & Co.
- M‘
- Crackan and Jamieson.
- Miller, Eyes, and Co.
- Miller, Robinson, & Co.
- Winter, Britain, & Co.
- Plowes, Noble, & Co.
- Duguid and M‘
- Kerrell.
- Bertram, Armstrong, & Co.
- Heyworth and Carlisle.
- William P. Robertson & Co.
- Anderson, Weir, & Co.
- Tayleure, Cartwright, & Co.
- William Hardesty & Co.
- Joseph and Joshua Thwaites.
- John Gibson & Co.
- Hugh Dallas & Co.
- Peter Sheridan.
- John Appleyard.
- John Bailey.
- C. S. Harvey.
- Thomas Eastman.
- Thomas Fair.
- Thomas Nelson.
- Green and Hodgson.
- Richard and William Orr.
- Jump and Priestley.
- Stewart and M‘
- Call.
- John Ludlam.
- James G. Helsby.
- Henry Hesse.
- John M‘
- Dougall & Co.
- John Harratt & Co.
- R. B. Niblett.
- Daniel Mackinlay.
- Thomas Barton.
- George Macfarlane.
- Stephen Puddicomb.
- Robert Utting.
Most of the above houses have their corresponding firms at Rio Janeiro, Monte Video, Chili, and Peru, forming an immense link, of no mean importance, to the trade of Great Britain.
Our merchants, in Buenos Ayres, are not only land and stock-holders; but, since the establishment of the Bank, they have become Bank Directors. In thus identifying themselves with the country, I am persuaded, they will not forfeit one iota of their independence.
In 1821, the British merchants in Buenos Ayres advanced to the Buenos Ayrean government a sum of money, by way of loan, which was punctually repaid, contrary to the expectations of many; for as this money was lent only a few months after a revolution, when Ramirez and Carrera were in the field, threatening the province, its return was problematical.
The majority of the British merchants are natives of Scotland, proverbial for their talent and activity in trade. Without being accused of undue partiality, I may safely assert, that our merchants do honour to the country in which they are domiciled. Quoting the language of Don Valentin Gomez, at the King’s birth-day dinner, of April 23, 1823, “The English citizens have shewn themselves worthy of the distinguished character they have acquired. In Buenos Ayres, they have always been good fathers of families, and good guests. The province owes them every protection.”
The clerks in the mercantile houses are kept pretty closely to business, from eight in the morning till near the same hour at night, holidays excepted, which is fagging work.
Besides the merchants, there are a host of English shopkeepers. The street of La Piedad is full of them; and they retail almost every article that can be mentioned. In all parts of the city, the eye continually meets with English, and their inscriptions in front of the shops; as, Zapatero Ingles (English Shoemaker), Sastre (Tailor), Carpenteria (Carpenter), Roloxero (Watchmaker), &c. &c.; and the quantity of British subjects dispersed all over the country, as collectors of hides, agriculturists, &c. is more than would be believed.
A trifling jealousy is, at times, to be observed amongst the natives, at the numbers of the English resident here; the former supposing that we have a monopoly of business, and drain the country of money. These false reasoners in political economy cannot comprehend that, in trade, obligations are mutual, and that for our goods we buy their produce, often at a ruinous price. All increase of population to a new and thinly-peopled country, like Buenos Ayres, just released from a disgraceful thraldrom, ought to be viewed as a benefit: the well informed know it to be so.
The British medical practitioners at Buenos Ayres are—Drs. Leper, Dick, Oughan,[8] Jenkinson, and Whitfield: the two last are apothecaries. Drs. Leper and Dick are surgeons in his majesty’s navy, and are allowed to be men of talent, and have good practice.