Chap. XVIII. FUTURE PROSPECTS. 311 



Lorente's well-known learning, and habit of careful research, 

 promise that his history of Peru, now on the point of bemg 

 published in PaTis, will be a work of great value. 



This hasty glance at the present state of Peru, as regards 

 its government, material resources, and literature, will, I 

 trust, have shown that the people of these South xVmerican 

 states are not altogether the hopelessly degraded race that 

 they are often represented ; and that there are grounds for 

 believing that there is yet a happier future in store for them. 

 For, be it remembered, that Peru is far from being the best 

 specimen of these republics, and that the Chilians have dis- 

 played tenfold the ability, both in governing, in commercial 

 and agricultiu-al pursuits, and in literature. I think there can 

 be no doubt that a hasty conclusion respecting the South 

 American races, founded on their history since the independ- 

 ence, is likely to be erroneous and unfair ; and that, under 

 more favourable circumstances, they are in every way capable 

 of better things. 



I cannot better conclude this chapter than by quoting the 

 words of that noble old warrior General Miller, written only 

 a few months before his death, in November 1861. This 

 most excellent of men fought all the battles of independence 

 from 1817 to 1824 ; he was covered with wounds and riddled 

 with bullets' while striving for South American fi-eedom ; he 

 had watched with sorroN^-ful attention the subsequent anarchy 

 and civil wars, and his words carry great weight with them. 

 It will be seen that he does not despond, but looks forward 

 with hope to the future. 



He says, " South America, with good reason, must feel for 

 ever proud of Camilo Henriquez, Yigil, and Mariategui, 

 Olmedo and Felipe Pardo, San JMartin and O'Higgins, and 

 many others of her illustrious sons. And what may not be 



' After his death 22 wounds were found cm his body, and 2 bullets lodged. 



