376 APPENDIX. 



ation of the time fixed, emissaries had been sent to the army of Conception 

 by Carrera : by their generous offers matters were amicably adjusted, a 

 reconciliation and coalition of parties was effected, and the enterprise of 

 removing the seat of government to Conception was totally destroyed. 



The Spaniards having received reinforcements from Lima, Chiloe, and 

 Coquimbo, began to concentrate themselves in the south of Chile, in order 

 to oppose the progress of Carrera, who was not remiss in his preparations to 

 meet them. He nominated a Vice-President in his absence, and marched 

 to encounter them with the united forces of Chile and Conception. An infi- 

 nity of actions, sieges, and skirmishes succeeded, in which the Americans, 

 though little experienced in war, were generally victorious over their 

 oppressors. 



It was in these guerillas that Don Bernardo O'Higgins (now Supreme 

 Director of Chile) first distinguished himself. His father was a native of 

 of Ireland, who had served some time in the English army ; but not meeting 

 the attention or preferment which he considered as due to his merit, he 

 resigned, and passing to Spain, received an appointment in the army of that 

 country ; from whence he accompanied an expedition to Chile, where he 

 evinced so much intrepidity, prudence, and application, in a war against the 

 Indians, as induced His Catholic Majesty to create him a brigadier of his ser- 

 vice, and captain-general of Chile. He discharged the duties of these high 

 offices to the general satisfaction of his king and the people. He did not ne- 

 glect the education of Don Bernardo, who was but a natural son by a woman 

 named Isabella Riguelme, whose morals (it is said) were not altogether irre- 

 proachable. He was sent to England when young, where he continued 

 some time in an academy or college. At the commencement of the revo- 

 lution he resided on a farm which was bequeathed him by his father. His 

 military rank was captain of country militias ; but, in consequence of his 

 extraordinary courage and serenity in several actions against the Spaniards, 

 Carrera promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the army of 

 the line, as an encouragement to valour among his officers. O'Higgins 

 continued to merit the esteem of his general, and almost every action 

 brought him new honours : he attained at last the rank of brigadier-general ; 

 and Carrera placed in him as much confidence as he did in either of his 

 brothers. 



Subsequent to these flattering marks of favour and distinction with which 

 he had been honoured, Carrera and his brothers were shut up in the garrison 



