Sketch of the Rcvohilhn in Chile. 305 



an extensive collection of all tlie historical and statistical pa- 

 pers illustrative of Chilean history during the last ten years. 



The hope indulged by the Commodore of being able to 

 get the preliminaries of the Treaty signed before our de- 

 parture, were unfortunately frustrated by the serious political 

 events which then entirely occupied the attention of the 

 various members of Grovernment. It was necessary by mo- 

 derate measures and an energetic policy to crush out the 

 Revolution, which had broken out about two months prior 

 to our arrival, before it had attained uncontrollable dimen- 

 sions. The insurgents in this case were not vehement hot- 

 headed Republicans, desirous of further liberty, but reaction- 

 ary Ultramontanes (of whom there always are some, even in 

 a Republic), who wished to overthrow the existing Liberal 

 Government, and substitute in its place a more flexible 

 cabinet, more dependent upon party tactics. The dread lest 

 the insurrection should spread till it resulted in civil war, 

 which would throw back for years the prosperity of the coun- 

 try, proved to be well-grounded. For several of the most 

 prominent and distinguished citizens of Chile, as also the 

 clerical party always so powerful in Spanish American colo- 

 nies, had united with the insurgents, whose youthful and 

 ardent leader, Don Pedro Gallo, belonged to one of tlie 

 wealthiest and most influential families in Chile. He had 

 already assumed a threatening attitude in the northern pro- 

 vinces, where his family was held in high consideration, and 

 had cut off all communication with the mining city of Co- 



voL. in. 



