VALPARAISO. 297 



however, I have spent very agreeably to myself, chiefly at the Ad- 

 miral's tents ; but that is far enough from the town not to hear its 

 noise. Having lodged Glennie at the tents, I returned to the. town 

 and called on the Director, who is living in the government-house ; 

 and Zenteno and his family are gone to another. His Excellency 

 looks very well, and received me as courteously as I could wish ; and, 

 according to the custom of the country, as soon as I was seated pre- 

 sented me with a flower. I know not how it happened, but the dis- 

 course turned on nunneries, and I mentioned the Philippine nuns in 

 Rome ; on which he begged to have a particular notice of them and 

 their rule, in order to better the condition, if possible, of the nuns of 

 Chile, and especially of such as superintend the education of young 

 girls. This I promised ; and as soon as I came home, sent him such 

 notices as I had, with references to the ecclesiastical histories I sup- 

 pose he can command in the public library. I little thought, when 

 visiting in the parlour of that convent, which was once Caesar Borgia's 

 palace, and looking over the ruins of Rome from its galleries, painted 

 by Domenichino, I think, that that visit might become of consequence 

 to the forlorn recluses of Chile ! 



Having paid my visits, I returned to the tents, and found that my 

 patient had been sleeping quietly. Lord Cochrane, much interested 

 in him, kindly pressed me to take him for change of air to Quintero, 

 which I am most willing to do ; and as soon as he is strong enough, 

 I mean to go. The Admiral himself does not look very well, but 

 that is not marvellous ; the squadron is still unpaid. The charges 

 preferred against him by San Martin, though never credited by the 

 government, which possesses abundant documents in its own hands to 

 refute them, have remained uncontradicted by him, at the request of 

 that government, in order to avoid exciting party spirit, or a quarrel, 

 perhaps a war, between Peru and Chile. But now that all danger of 

 that kind is over, and as San Martin is honoured by having the palace 

 itself appointed for his residence, and receives every mark of public 

 attention, as if on purpose to insult Lord Cochrane, those charges 

 should and will be answered ; and answered too with facts and dates 

 which will completely overwhelm all the accusations, direct and in- 



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