Peru, determined to make & settlement in this 

 province; whicbj from its natural advantages, 

 and its remoteness, appeared to him more suitable 

 than any other for the centre of his conquests. 

 With this view, having selected a convenient 

 situation on the left shore of the Mapocho, on 

 the 24th of February L541, he laid the founda- 

 tions of the capital of the kingdom, to which, in 

 honour of that apostle, he gave the name of St. 

 Jago. In laying out the city he divided the 

 ground into plats or squares, each containing 

 4096 toises, a fourth of which he allowed to every 

 citizen, a plan that has been pursued in the 

 foundation of all the other cities. One of thes^ 

 plats, lying upon the great square, he destined 

 for the cathedral and the bishop's palace, which 

 he intended to build there, and the one opposite 

 for that of the governmei^t. He likewise ap- 

 pointed a magistracy, according to the forms of 

 Spain, from such of his army as were the best 

 qualitied ; and to protect the settlement in cast; 

 of an attack, he constructed a fort upon a hill in 

 the centre of the city, which has since received 

 the name of St. Lucia, 



Many have applauded the discernment of Val- 

 divia, in having made choice of'<this situation 

 ttjr the seat of the capital of the colony. But 

 considering the wants otf a great city, it would 

 have been better placed fifteen miles farther to 

 the south, upon the Maypo, a Ijirge river whick 



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