146 JOURNAL. 



other views, — to descant with other feelings on the same occurrences. 

 And though there be no intentional variation, some shades of cha- 

 racter will be kept under by fear, some suppressed, it may be through 

 modesty, and there are feelings for others which will blot out many 

 more : yet the journal is true ; true to nature, true to facts, and 

 true to a better feeling than often dictates the momentary lines of 

 spleen or suffering. This truth I solemnly engage myself to preserve. 

 I cannot give, and I trust no one will demand, more. 



June 2d. — A rainy morning, and feeling cold, yet the thermometer 

 not below 50° of Fahrenheit. While I was at breakfast, one of my 

 little neighbours came running in, screaming out " Senora, he is come ! 

 " he is come !" — " Who is come, child?" — " Our admiral, our great and 

 good admiral ; and if you come to the veranda, you will see the flags in 

 the Almendral." Accordingly, I looked out, and did see the Chilian 

 flag hoisted at every door : and two ships more in the roads than there 

 were yesterday. The O'Higgins and Valdivia had arrived during 

 the night, and all the inhabitants of the port and suburbs had made 

 haste to display their flags and their joy on Lord Cochrane's safe re- 

 turn. I am delighted at his arrival, not only because I want to see 

 him, whom I look up to as my natural friend here *, but because I 

 think he ought to have influence to mend some things, and to pre- 

 vent others ; which, without such influence, will, I fear, prove highly 

 detrimental to the rising state of Chile, if not to the general cause 

 of South American independence. 



My mind, for a time after I arrived, was not sufficiently free to 

 attend, with any degree of interest, to the political state of the coun- 

 try : yet a measure of vital importance is now pending. 



On the first settlement of affairs after the battle of Chacabuco, 

 Don Bernardo O'Higgins had been chosen to preside over the nation, 

 under the title of Supreme Director of Chile. A senate was chosen 

 from among the respectable citizens to assist him, and a provisional 



* Captain Graham was a very young midshipman in the Thetis when Lord Cochrane 

 was an elder one. Sir A. Cochrane was the captain. 



