VALPARAISO. 



317 



tered my friends the Hogans, among many others, and there I was 

 kindly invited to sleep. The reports I heard on arriving here once 

 more awakened my attention to the affairs of Chile, which the more 

 immediate feelings connected with the earthquake had made me, for 

 the moment, lose sight of. 



At length the government had resolved to pay the squadron ; and 

 the first plan, not uninfluenced, it is believed, by the counsels of San 

 Martin, was to pay the men and petty officers before the officers ; 

 also to pay them ashore, the pay office being provided either with 

 leave-tickets for four months, or discharges to give them on demand, 

 so as to have left the ships, the Admiral, and the officers in the har- 

 bour, without a man. This plan, of course, the Admiral would not 

 suffer, and therefore the payments are making on board : the first 

 took place on the very day of the earthquake ; and I have been told 

 that the confusion of the scene in the streets on that disastrous night, 

 was increased by the number of sailors ashore on leave, and making 

 merry with their friends on their newly-received pay. They receive 

 bills of twenty-five dollars ; four only of which they will get silver for, 

 the rest they are compelled to expend in clothes at the shops set up 

 for that purpose by Areas in the port. 



This day the Independencia, the only effective ship of the squa- 

 dron, was despatched without the Admiral's leave, without even the 

 formality of transmitting the orders through him ! But Zenteno, as 

 minister of marine, took upon himself to send her on a particular 

 service. It is understood to be in pursuit of a vessel or vessels going 

 to San Carlos of Chiloe with money and stores, which are to be in- 

 tercepted. 



Monday, 25th. — So severe a shock took place at a quarter past 

 eight o'clock this morning, as to shake down a great deal of what had 

 been spared on the night of the 19th. Two others occurred in the 

 course of the forenoon, and two after seven at night. I have been 

 busy all day packing my books, clothes, &c, to remove ; because my 

 house is let over my head to some persons who, seeing how well it 



