Francia remained supreme and absolute master of Paraguay till his death ou the 20th of September 1840, when he was succeeded by a directory, or governing junta, of three persons.
The instances of Francia'a tyranny as exercised on foreigners, that have had the greatest noise made about them, are those of his treat ment of M. Bonpland, Messrs. Rengger and Longchamp, and the Messrs. Robertson. Bonpland, the distinguished botanist, had set up an establishment for the culture of Paraguay tea in the adjoining district of Eutre Rios, a sort of debateable land, and was there seized in 1821 by order of Francia, nod carried off into Paraguay, where he was detained till Febrhary 1831 ; but, beyond his forcible detention, he was not harshly treated. [Botirtaisn.] Messrs. Reogger and -Longchamp were two Swiss surgeons who had found their way into Paraguay in 1819, and were detained by the dictator, principally, it would appear, for the sake of their professional services, till 1825. After their return to Europe they published an account of their adventures and of the country under the title of 'Essai Historique our la Revolution de Paraguay, et le Gonvernement Dictatoriel du Docteur Francia.' The Messrs. Robertson were not detained in the
country, but turned out of it. They have told their own story, though rather confusedly, in their 'Letters on Paraguay,' 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1838, and Francia'a Reign of Terror,' 8vo, London, 1839. The most distinct and graphic sketch that has been drawn, at least in English, of Franck and his career, is iu a very characteriatie paper by Mr. Carlyle, in the 62nd No. of the 'Foreign Quarterly Review' (for July 1843), pp. 544-589. If it should be thought ton much to soften some of the more startling points in the dictator's character and conduct, and to give him the benefit of a favourable doubt somewhat too liberally, it may be corrected by comparison with the Messrs. Robert son's unmixed and unmeasured condemnation. Mr. Carlyle has derived some of his facts from a funeral discourse delivered at the celebration of the obsequies of Francia by the Rev. Manuel Antonia Perez, in which his government is lauded in the highest terms.