Mar.} 



CHRONICLE. 



45 



dependence, declared by the Go- 

 vernment, whether it should be 

 delayed or not ; and the result 

 having been that the whole of the 

 citizens have irrevocably decided 

 for the -declaration of indepen- 

 dence, we have thought fit to 

 exercise that extraordinary power 

 %vith which the nation has au- 

 thorized us in this particular case, 

 to declare solemnly, in their 

 name, in the presence of the 

 Most High, and to make kno^vn 

 to the great confederacy of the 

 human race, that the continental 

 territory of Chili, and her adja- 

 cent islands, form in fact and 

 right a free, independent, and 

 sovereign state, to remain for 

 ever separated from the monar- 

 chy of Spain, with full power to 

 adopt what mode of Government 

 may be most conducive to her 

 interests. And in order that 

 this declaration may have all the 

 force and solidity which ought to 

 characterize tlie first act of a free 

 people, we confirm it with the 

 honour, life, fortunes, and all the 

 social relations of the inhabitants 

 of this new state : we pledge our 

 word, the dignity of our office, 

 and the glory of the arms of the 

 country, and we command that 

 the original act in the archive of 

 the municipality of Santiago, 

 may be deposited, together with 

 the books of the Great Register, 

 and that it may be circulated 

 among all the people, armies, 

 and corporations, in order that 

 the emancipation of Chili may be 

 sworn to and be for ever sealed. 



Given in the Directorial Palace 

 of Conception, the 1st day of 

 January, 1818, confirmed by our 

 own hand, signed by the nation, 

 and countersigned by the minis- 



ters and secretaries of tlie state, 

 in the departments of Govern- 

 ment, &c. 



Bernardo O'Higgins. 



Miguel Zanartu. 



HiPOLITO DE ViLLEGAS. 



Jose Ignacio Zenteno. 

 A Dreadful event happened at 

 Priorsfield colliery, near Lane- 

 end, Staffordshire, on the morn- 

 ing of the 5th, about 6 o'clock, 

 occasioned by the breaking of 

 the main chain immediately after 

 the waggon was drawn off the 

 pit, by jWhich accident 3 men, 

 and 3 boys, all fastened together 

 in the chain, were precipitated to 

 the bottom of the pit, and literally 

 dashed to pieces. 



16. King's Head Tavern. — In 

 consequence of a particular ap- 

 pointment, the Committee have 

 proceeded to investigate the sub- 

 ject referred to them ; and how- 

 ever it is to be lamented that the 

 practice of adulterating tea should 

 have existed in any instances, yet 

 it is a matter of considerable 

 satisfaction to the Committee to 

 find, from the most minute inves- 

 tigation which it was in their 

 power to make, that the practice 

 is extremely limited in its extent, 

 and confined to a few unprin- 

 cipled individuals ; and that 

 every possible exertion is making 

 to bring to light the cases in 

 which the illicit practice has 

 been adopted, to publish the 

 names of those who are detected 

 therein, and effectually to sup- 

 press the evil. 



It being the anxious wish of 

 the Committee to clear the Tea 

 Trade from the indiscriminate im- 

 putations, which they conscien- 

 tiously believe to be ill founded, 

 and to remove from the public 

 II mind 



