370 JOURNAL. 



" nefit of en ding strife ; if he makes use of his credit and his influence 

 " to restore the republic immediately to its former unity under asu- 

 " preme and energetic government ; if, with his forces, he does not 

 " remain an indifferent spectator of the public misfortunes, or allow 

 " the provinces to plunge into endless disputes about theoretical 

 " rights ; if in the best way in which circumstances will permit, and 

 " with all possible provisions for the security of liberty in the mean- 

 " time, he concurs in establishing a provisional government until the 

 " meeting of the General Congress which shall in full liberty dictate 

 " the permanent constitution of the state ; — he will have pursued a 

 " policy as sublime as beneficent, and will be in every sense the de- 

 " liverer of his country. 



" Such is the general picture of our public affairs : and your labours 

 " will be as arduous as important. A thousand improvements, a 

 " thousand useful provisions, would have been dictated by the junta, 

 " if its vacillating authority, the political situation of the state, and 

 " its attention, directed exclusively to the union of the nation, had 

 " not opposed insuperable obstacles. Perhaps we have been mis- 

 " taken ; perhaps error may have presided over many of our deliber- 

 " ations, — it is inseparable from human nature : but pardon, Fathers 

 " of the country ! pardon faults which certainly have been committed 

 " without tainting the general disinterestedness and patriotism on 

 " which we pride ourselves. God grant that our authority may be 

 " short, in order that you may accomplish as speedily as possible the 

 " establishment of a supreme government. Reason, experience, and 

 " public opinion, all agree that the executive power ought to be 

 " trusted to one alone. Relieve us from a burthen which oppresses 

 " us ; and let this be the reward of an administration, whose labours, 

 " difficulties, and grievances, have exceeded both our time and our 

 " strength. 



" AUGUSTIN DE EyZAGUIRRE. 



" Jose Miguel Infante. 

 " Fernando Ezrazuris. 

 " Mariano de Egana." 



