1853 (June 27), stampless folded letter from Barracas to Marseille,
France, via London, endorsed "per steamer Englisch [sic]
1853 (June 27), stampless folded letter from Barracas to Marseille,
France, via London, endorsed "per steamer Englisch [sic] via
Southampton", with bold red boxed Colonies &c Art. 13 handstamp
credit handstamp, black Angl. Calais entry datestamp (14 Aug), and
manuscript "16" decimes accountancy markings, reverse with partial
Buenos Aires departure, partial red London / Paid transit (13 Aug),
black Paris transit (14 Aug), and Marseille arrival (16 Aug),
horizontal fold and small imperfections, else a fine letter with
contents of historical interest. The letter reports on the volatile
atmosphere following the 1852 Battle of Caseros and the fall of the
Rosas dictatorship: a "division of the army" is passing through
Barracas with "arms and baggage" under a "general alert," with
further military defections anticipated. Although the writer
suggests the political position is clearing up, he remains wary of
"insignificant parties" and a landscape where one must "always be
on guard." Local inflation is described with equal unease, the
sender noting that "everything is expensive," with high prices for
beef, cows, and hides forcing reliance on a pulpería (tavern)
established in the countryside to "give drink and sell new things
to the gauchos." To ensure these observations reached Europe,
duplicates were despatched via the Arago, Gaston, and Pascale.
