42 INTRODUCTION. 



repairing of the old public works, and the forming new, particularly the 

 canal of Maypu, which conveys the waters of that river along a high 

 level, for the purpose of irrigating an immense plain, formerly bai'ren, 

 and the resort only of robbers, but with water capable of every kind 

 of improvement. * These works had the advantage of giving employ- 

 ment to the numerous prisoners of war, whose subsistence would 

 otherwise have been a heavy burden upon the state, and whose treat- 

 ment was such when not so employed as humanity would gladly 

 draw a veil over. But the Spaniards had given terrible examples, — 

 no wonder if the nations they had oppressed sometimes retaliated. 



General San Martin meantime had visited Buenos Ayres, but 

 chiefly resided at Mendoza ; he was augmenting the army, for the 

 purpose of invading Peru, so soon as the troops and money could be 

 ready, by means of the Chileno squadron ; and he was believed, not 

 without reason, to be the real director of all the affairs of Chile. The 

 ascendency this man had acquired is singular ; his courage is more 

 than doubtful, and his talents are not above mediocrity. But he has 

 a handsome person ; an imposing air ; a versatile manner, accom- 

 modating itself to all tastes, from that of a finished courtier to a 

 country clown ; and a great power of feigning. He is one of those 

 of whom Bacon says, " There be that can pack the cards, and yet 

 " cannot play well : so there are some that are good in canvasses 

 " and factions, that are otherwise weak men." His seci'etary, Mon- 

 teagudo, has many qualities in common with him ; but the fail- 

 ings of the master are carried to a greater length, and certainly he 

 is superior even to San Martin in unfeeling cruelty. But his acute- 

 ness is astonishing ; he is " perfect in men's humours," — and so 

 leads them by their own foibles : his eloquence was of great service to 

 the good cause, though on many occasions his proclamations and state 

 papers savour too much of that bombastic turn which the Spaniards 

 in general are reproached with, and which is, indeed, very conspi- 

 cuous on the western side of the Atlantic. The plain simple good 



* The sale of the land and of the water on this plain has more than paid the expense, 

 and is beginning to be a profitable concern to the government. 



