JUAN FERNANDEZ. 347 



Lord Cochrane had adopted Chile as his country : its government 

 has used him ill ; and now at a time when, if he had been so 

 minded, revenge on the authors of the ill-usage he has suffered would 

 have been easy, he withdraws. I know that it has been thought right 

 that in civil commotions every honest man should take part, in order 

 that the wiser might bring matters to an accommodation. This is 

 good for the natives of a country, but is no ways to be desired from 

 a stranger, especially a martial man of high reputation and rank, 

 who might be supposed to have the inclination as well as the power to 

 set up his own authority. In this case, having done every thing to 

 deliver the country from a foreign enemy, and to secure its national 

 independence, it is wisdom, it is generosity, to stand aloof and let the 

 seed of the soil be the arbiters of the concerns of the soil. Law and 

 justice themselves can but guard the citizens from external evils, but 

 may not meddle in their family affairs. 



From the 18th to the 21st we had weather very uncomfortable, 

 and a disagreeable sea ; but this morning (22d) we descried the island 

 of Mas-afuera about seven leagues off, right a-head, through a fog ; 

 and shortly after bore up for Juan Fernandez, where we were to 

 complete the water for the ship. I should have been sorry, indeed, 

 to have left the Pacific without seeing the very island of Alexander 

 Selkirk, the prototype of that most interesting of all heroes of ro- 

 mance (excepting Don Quixote), Robinson Crusoe. 



24//*. — Yesterday and to-day in sight of Juan Fernandez, and 

 working for it, but could not reach it till near sunset. It is the most 

 picturesque I ever saw, being composed of high perpendicular rocks 

 wooded nearly to the top, with beautiful valleys ; and the ruins of 

 the little town in the largest of these heighten the effect. It was too 

 late to go ashore when we anchored ; but it was a bright moonlight, 

 and we staid long on deck to-night, admiring the extraordinary 

 beauty of the scene. 



25th. — Before daylight this morning Lord Cochrane and most 

 of the other gentlemen went ashore to climb to the high ridge behind 

 the port, and look over to the other side of the island, where it is 



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