Of two years in South America I passed one as Secretary at _Buenos Ayres_, and the other in a similar capacity at _Rio de Janeiro_. During the first year I was sent up the _Uruguay_ and to the Province of _Santa Fè_; then to the Welsh colony on the _Chupat_ river in _Patagonia_; and, lastly, to the then seat of war in _Paraguay_: in the second year I went on a mission to the Province of _Minas Geraes_ in _Brazil_. I had thus opportunities of seeing different parts of the continent, and of becoming more impressed with the want of a work giving anything like a complete account of them. On my return to Europe I was employed in several countries for a number of years in succession, and have only recently found the necessary leisure to compose a work of the kind mentioned. The materials at my disposal are voluminous; but my effort has been to make this Review as concise as is consistent with clearness. In offering it to the Public I by no means desire it to take the place of the more elaborate and original works referred to in it, but rather to serve as an Index to the contents of these various works. The History of South America may contain much of general interest; it possesses, moreover, a special interest for merchants, settlers, sailors, and travellers, who may have passed, or may be likely to pass, a portion of their lives on the continent in question; nor should some knowledge of an important portion of the globe be excluded from the sphere of inquiry of any educated person.