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state of humanity, will believe ; but I will hope that most of these 

 changes have bettered the general condition of human nature. How 

 long I might have gone on musing I do not know, if the Vice-Pre- 

 sident and Secretary had not interrupted the silence that followed 

 the resolution passed when we entered, by reading the report of it to 

 the President, who having approved of it, the house proceeded. The 

 President then read a message from the Director, submitting to the 

 assembly the propriety of sending envoys to different foreign states, 

 and desiring them to appoint proper salaries. This gave rise to a 

 lively discussion of a much freer tone than I had expected in so 

 young a convention, especially one appointed by the executive power 

 alone. To the expediency of sending the envoys there was no 

 opposition ; but on the appointing salaries there were several ques- 

 tions ; — first, could it be done before the actual revenue of the 

 country was ascertained and reported to the convention ; and next, 

 could a grant of money be made for a new purpose while the army 

 was so greatly in arrear (upwards of 1 8,000 dollars) ? They might 

 have added the navy also. The speech of the President on opening 

 the business, and also his reply to the proposed amendment request- 

 ing that the public accounts should be looked into before funds were 

 allotted for such a purpose, were extremely clever, and delivered with 

 the ease and eloquence of a man accustomed to speak in public : he 

 is a priest. The discussion was very warm, but carried on with great 

 decorum, the members, in their ordinary dresses, standing up in their 

 places ; and when two rose at once, he that first caught the President's 

 eye had the preference. 



I was very much gratified with my visit to the convention, and 

 withdrew from it with hopes of a speedier and firmer settlement of a 

 regular government here than I had hitherto allowed myself to 

 entertain. 



It seems to me, that the progress made is astonishing ; but I 

 believe that men, like other articles, arise when there is a demand 

 for them. There are elements in Chile for the formation of a state ; 

 but education is wanting before that which essentially constitutes a 

 state will be found ; i. e. — 



