Philosophical Culture. — Encouragement to Foreigners. 297 



the Southern Hemisphere was not favourable to our carrying 

 away a correct impression of the public walks at their gayest, 

 especially when, as in om- case, the weather is raw and 

 gloomy, and the mournful rustle of dead leaves sounds like 

 the elegy of departed gaiety. Thus, for example, the dam 

 along the sides of the river, the waters of which in the rainy 

 season swell into a furious torrent, but the bed of which was 

 now quite dry, forms in summer a delightful walk ; whereas 

 in winter it is only visited by students, preachers meditative 

 of their next discom^se, or lovers oblivious of the elements. 



There is in Santiago a sui-prising degree of intellectual 

 activity, and great readiness in promoting scientific discovery. 

 The philosophical works, which have of late years made their 

 appearance, are deserving of the highest praise. The edu- 

 cated foreigner is not regarded askance here with envious 

 eye, nor, because he happens not to be a native, kept in the 

 back-ground, and refused admission to positions of jDublic 

 trust and influence ; he is rather encouraged in his exertions 

 by the example of such men as Domeyko, Philippi, Pissis, 

 Moesta, &c. The well-known costly work in 24 volumes, 

 describing the physical and political history of Chile, was 

 composed by a Frenchman named Claudio Gay,"* the expense 

 of printing it in Paris being borne by the Government. The 

 annals of the University of Chile appear in regular publica- 



* " Historia fisica y politica de Chile, segun documentos adquiridos en esta Re- 

 publica durante doze aiios de residencia en ella, y publicado bajo los auspicios del 

 supremo Gobierno por Claudio Gay, &c., Paris, 1844, 8vo. ;" besides two large quarto 

 volumes, " Atlas de la historia fisica y politica de Chile." 



