Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

ESTABLISHMENT DELUSION. 26T Brisbane, and others ; in the evening we had music and dancing. In the room was a grand piano-forte ; Mrs. Vernet, a Buenos Ayrean lady, gave us some excellent singing, which sounded not a little strange at the Falkland Isles, where we expected to find only a few sealers. " Mr. Vernet's establishment consisted of about fifteen slaves, bought by him from the Buenos Ayrean Government, on the condition of teaching them some useful employment, and having their services for a certain number of years, after which they were to be freed. They seemed generally to be from fifteen to twenty years of age, and appeared contented and happy. " The total number of persons on the island consisted of about one hujidred, including twenty-five gauchos and five Indians. There were two Dutch families (the women of which milked the cows and made butter) ; two or three Englishmen a German family ; and the remainder were Spaniards and Por- tuguese, pretending to follow some trade, but doing little or nothing. The gauchos were chiefly Buenos Ayreans ; but their capataz or leader was a Frenchman." Such was the state of Vernefs settlement a few months before the Lexington's visit ; and there was then every reason for the settlers to anticipate success, as they, poor deluded people, never dreamed of having no business there without having obtained the permission of the British Government. They thought, naturally enough, that the Buenos Ayrean Government could not have sold the islands to Mr. Vernet, unless the state of La Plata had a right to them ; they believed that the purchase-money had been paid ;* but they were not aware that the British Government had protested formally against the pretended claim of Buenos Ayres, so quiet was that fact kept by the Argentine Government, although the solemn protest was made by Mr. Parish, the British consul- general, in November 1829- * It is said that officers in the Buenos Ayrean army, relations of Mrs. Vernet, had claims upon their Government, which they agreed should be liquidated by receiving certain sums of money from Mr. Vernet; in con- sideration of which the Government made over to him their pretended right of property in the Falklands and Staten Laud.