VALPARAISO. 175 



the little harbours and creeks of the shore as we passed rapidly along, 

 and by our situation on board the first vessel that has brought to these 

 seas the most complete triumph of the genius of man over the ob- 

 stacles presented by brute matter. I trust the time is not far distant, 

 when the Rising Star will not be the only steam-vessel on the coast, 

 and that the wise and benevolent views with which she was brought 

 out will be fulfilled. * Nothing can be better adapted for packets on 

 these coasts. The regular winds which now force ships out as far as 

 Juan Fernandez, in order to make a reasonable passage from Lima 

 to Valparaiso, are never so strong as to hinder the working of a 

 steam ship ; and the facility of communication between these as well 

 as the intermediate ports would not only promote their commercial 

 interests, but be a means of security against the attempts of any 

 enemy these countries have to fear from abroad. As long as Europe 

 continues quiet, and until Spain recovers from the madness of civil 

 dissension, perhaps South America is safe enough from foreign inva- 

 sion : but if any of the powers that have not acknowledged the inde- 

 pendence of the states should go to war with Spain, who can say 

 whether, availing themselves of not having made that acknowledge- 

 ment, they might not be disposed to seize on some part of them as 

 provinces de jure belonging to the mother-country ; and I confess 

 that a French invasion (for I will not think England so wicked) 

 would be a most fearful misfortune to these rising states, and one 

 from which nothing but a naval force could defend them. 



I had as much conversation with Zenteno as my yet imperfect 

 knowledge of Spanish would permit. He seems truly desirous of 

 the good of Chile ; but wonderfully unknowing in those things which 

 would most contribute to it. The morning, however, passed plea- 

 santly away ; and we sat down to a table which Europe and America 

 equally supplied with luxuries ; and amused ourselves, perhaps un- 



* All the materials for two smaller steam-vessels were carried to Valparaiso ; but I find 

 that instead of constructing them properly on their arrival, the machinery has been left in 

 the warehouse which first received it, and the timber applied to the building a ministerial 

 trader, by which Zenteno and his partner have made large sums. — 1824. 



