tion, declaring it to be the national will that Upper Peru should in
future constitute a distinct and independent nation. This assembly
continued their session, although the primary object of their meeting
had thus been accomplished, and afterwards gave the name of Bolivia to
the country,--issuing at the same time a formal declaration of
independence.

The first general assembly of deputies of Bolivia dissolved itself on
the 6th of October 1825, and a new congress was summoned and formally
installed at Chuquisaca on the 25th of May 1826, to take into
consideration the constitution prepared by Bolivar for the new republic.
A favourable report was made to that body by a committee appointed to
examine it, on which it was approved by the congress, and declared to be
the constitution of the republic; and as such, it was sworn to by the
people. General Sucre was chosen president for life, according to the
constitution, but only accepted the appointment for the space of two
years, and on the express condition that 2000 Colombian troops should be
permitted to remain with him.

The independence of the country, so dearly bought, did not, however,
secure for it a peaceful future. Repeated risings occurred, till in the
end of 1827 General Sucre and his Colombian troops were driven from La
Paz. A new congress was formed at Chuquisaca in April 1828, which
modified the constitution given by Bolivar, and chose Marshal Santa Cruz
for president; but only a year later a revolution, led by General
Blanco, threw the country into disorder and for a time overturned the
government. Quiet being again restored in 1831, Santa Cruz promulgated
the code of laws which bore his name, and brought the financial affairs
of the country into some order; he also concluded a treaty of commerce
with Peru, and for several years Bolivia remained in peace. In 1835,
when a struggle for the chief power had made two factions in the
neighbouring republic of Peru, Santa Cruz was induced to take a part in
the contest; he marched into that country, and after defeating General
Gamarra, the leader of one of the opposing parties, completed the
pacification of Peru in the spring of 1836, named himself its protector,
and had in view a confederation of the two countries. At this juncture
the government of Chile interfered actively, and espousing the cause of
Gamarra, sent troops into Peru. Three years of fighting ensued till in a
battle at Jungay in June 1839 Santa Cruz wa