wants. Celidono informed then that he had been at the Port (Valparaiso) only once in five years. He seems to have all that is needful. His wife was engaged in spinning with the distaff and spindle. There being but one room, they were accommodated on the clay floor, spread with their pillions and saddle-cloths, while Celidono and his wife occupied the bed. The temperature varied from 65·30° on their arrival, at 5h 30m, to 53°, at 11 P. M. On the morning of the 24th, the thermometer stood at 51°, on the summit of the cuesta, and at 58° between nine and ten o'clock. Here the scene was very different from what they had before witnessed. The plain they had just left was in broad sunshine, showing distinctly its many cultivated farms; that to which they were about descending was a sea of dense white clouds, extending seaward as far as the eye could reach, as though a vast body of white cumuli had descended and filled. the whole extent of the Quillota valley. These clouds kept rolling off towards the sea, before the light wind, and rose gradually as they passed off. They reached Mr. Blanchard's, at Quillota, at noon, when the temperature was 60°, and taking their biloche, they arrived at Valparaiso in the evening. Having heard much about the rise of the coast, from the effects of earthquakes, I was desirous of gaining all the information in relation to this subject. From the residents, the accounts are so contradictory, that no correct intelligence can be obtained. The decrease in the depth of the bay, I have before said, can be accounted for, and undoubtedly is owing, so far as it has taken place, to the wash of the hills; and the formation of a new street which has been reclaimed from the bay, has given rise to the idea, and it is pointed out as having been built upon ground left dry by the earthquake of 1832. Several of our naturalists made a close examination of the coast in the neighbourhood, the result of which on the minds of all was, that there was no proof of elevation. That changes in the beaches, through the agency of the heavy rollers and the northers that yearly occur, are constantly going on, is quite evident; but these, as one would naturally suppose, increase the shore only in some places, while in others they are wearing it away. Earthquakes do not appear to happen at any particular season. The great one of 1730 was in July; that of 1751, in May; and those of 1822 and 1835, both of which did much damage, in February. Slight shocks of earthquakes are experienced very frequently throughout Chili. One during our stay, on the 28th of May, started every one from their beds, but the shock was not repeated. No peculiar state of the weather, or other phenomenon, seems to precede them. That of 1835 nearly destroyed the towns of Concepcion, Talcahuana, Arauco, Angeles, Coluna, Chillian, Talca, and Cauquenes. It was very slightly felt in Valparaiso, and scarcely at all farther north. The sea receded in Valparaiso two feet, and returned immediately. The ground seemed to swell under the feet. In Juan Fernandez, it was very severely felt; and the following extract from the report of the then governor of that island, to the supreme government, is interesting. "I was walking, at the Castle of Santa Barbara, with the commandant of the garrison, when we suddenly observed that the sea had come over the mole. Fearing great damage, I hastened to have the boats drawn from under a shed, and prepared for use. At the same moment we heard a loud roaring, as of thunder, and saw a white column, like smoke, rise from the sea, a short distance from the place called El Punto de Bacallao,' and then felt the earth move. The sea retired about two hundred feet, when it commenced returning with great violence. This time it carried nearly every thing with it; broke down all the houses and huts but the one recently built of stone and mortar to contain provisions. Happily, this withstood its violence, although the water ascended more than six feet up its sides. It then retired again to its usual height. Constant shocks were felt during the night; and the sea, at the place before mentioned, continued throwing up water and smoke like a volcano." Chili abounds with volcanic mountains, but few of them are in an active state of eruption; which may account for the frequency of earthquakes. The peak of Tupongati is the only one in activity in this section. Our travellers to the Cordilleras were not fortunate enough to get a sight of it at night. Although by the constitution the Catholic religion is the established one, yet they have become so far enlightened as to tolerate that of the Protestant Episcopal form. A license could not be given to build a church, but the authorities, on being asked if the worship would be permitted, readily gave an assurance that it would not be interfered with; that although they could not allow a church to be put up, there could be no objection to their worshipping in a private dwelling. Since then, a very convenient room has been prepared, and a resident chaplain, Mr. Rowlandson, has been called, who officiates regularly on the Sabbath. The effect that it has produced on the habits of the foreign residents, of whom there are about three hundred, is marked. About one hundred and eighty of them are constant attendants on the service. What is somewhat remarkable, the person most in favour of toleration and building a church, is the priest of Valparaiso; and the only vote recorded for toleration, on the adoption of the constitution, was given by a Catholic bishop. The influence of the clergy is great, and they have much political power in the state. The people may generally be called bigoted, and under the control of the priests. The clergy as a body stand very fair; they encourage schools. The inhabitants are ignorant as yet; their opportunities for instruction are limited. There is no impediment in the way of Protestants teaching. Although it may be somewhat trite to mention it, yet one cannot but admire the sight of the Oracion, or sunset prayer. Whatever may be our idea of Catholic worship, no one can witness it here without feeling the solemn and impressive scene of a whole community, on the striking of the evening bells, instantly stopping employment, both within and without doors, and uncovering their heads to offer up their thanks or prayer for a few minutes. It must bring reflection, unless habit so blunts the mind and feeling as to make it callous to impressions well calculated to make men consider their evil ways, and feel thankful for the blessings they enjoy. The commerce of Chili is increasing rapidly. Valparaiso numbers sixty coasting vessels, of from fifty to three hundred and fifty tons, part of which are engaged in the trade from Valdivia and Chiloe to the northern ports, with timber and staves; and part are charged from Maule and Concepcion with grain, returning in ballast to Valparaiso, to load with foreign manufactures for the various ports of the republic. The exports are taken away in foreign vessels, and consist of copper, hides, wool, hemp, and plata piña. About sixty thousand quintals of copper are exported from Huasco, Coquimbo, and Valparaiso annually; one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand quintals of 100 lbs. in copper ores are shipped annually to England, and one hundred thousand marks of 8 oz. in bar silver. The returns from sales of English goods are made mostly in bullion. Thirty thousand hides are exported, principally from Valparaiso. Five to six hundred quintals of wool are shipped annually from Concepcion. The grain and country produce are generally sent to Peru and Guayaquil. Very little silver is coined in the country, dollars being an article of merchandise, worth from seven to nine per cent., according to the supplies from Bolivia or Peru. From eight hundred thousand to one million silver dollars come annually from Cobija to Valparaiso, and are shipped thence to England. Gold coins are issued from the mint at Santiago, doubloons, half, quarter, and eighth doubloon pieces; the current value of the ounce is seventeen dollars twenty-five The revenue of the government is largest from commerce: The ordinary expenditure is about $1,800,000. The number of foreign vessels employed in the trade is about two hundred and seventy, the same vessels arriving generally twice. They are of the following nations: The population of Chili may be estimated at one million two hundred thousand. Santiago contains about sixty thousand inhabitants, and is one of the few South American capitals, perhaps the only one, that is increasing in wealth and population. It has various private seminaries for both sexes, a national institute or college, on a liberal footing, an extensive hospital, a medical college, and a military academy. The Congress meets on the 1st of June, every year, when the President delivers his message. Valparaiso numbers thirty thousand inhabitants, and is one of the most flourishing seaports in the world. Its population has quintupled within the last twenty years, and it is rapidly advancing in every improvement, growing out of an increasing foreign commerce, and the enterprise of its inhabitants, fostered and encouraged as they are by government. The mining districts are to the north, and the grain country to the south. Extensive flour-mills are now at work in Concepcion and its neighbourhood: the machinery is brought from the United States. The recognised internal national debt is about $2,000,000, of which sum $800,000 is consolidated, bearing an annual interest of from two to six per cent. The government was about to consolidate the remainder, when their attention was called to other expenses abroad. The foreign debt is a loan from England, taken in 1822, of £1,000,000, with the interest now due, will not fall far short of $8,000,000. There is very little variation in the climate. During what is called the winter, when the rains prevail, between the 1st of May and the 1st of September, the thermometer occasionally falls for a few hours to 52°, but the mean of it throughout the year, at mid-day, would be 65°. During the dry season, from September to May, the thermometer at times reaches 78° to 80°. In the evening and morning, it is at 60°. Fruits are abundant in their season: apples, pears, apricots, nectarines, plums, peaches, cherries, &c.; figs, grapes, strawberries, oranges, limes, and every variety of vegetable. The present administration is composed of General Joaquim Prieto, President: term of office five years; eligible for a second, but not a third successive term. Don Joaquim Torconal, Minister of Foreign Relations, and Acting Minister of the Hacienda, or Treasury. Don Ramen Cavareda, Minister of War and Marine. Don Mariano Egaño, Minister of the Interior and Justice. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. The President of the Supreme Court of Justice, The President of the High Court of Appeals, The Reverend Bishop of Santiago, and Apostolic Vicar, The Minister of the Estanco, or Government Monopolies, Two Judges, and A Secretary of the Council. |