40 INTRODUCTION. 
these qualities ever meet in so eminent a degree. His naturally 
powerful mind had received all the solid advantage and much of the 
grace of cultivation; and his singularly gentle and courteous man- 
ner, which veiled while it adorned the determination of his character, 
was admirably calculated to conciliate all parties. * 
He arrived with his family in a small vessel called the Rose, on 
the 29th of November, and was received with the greatest joy by the 
director, who came from Santiago to Valparaiso to welcome him. 
On the 9th of December the Maria Isabella was named the O’ Higgins, 
and it was understood that she was to be offered to Lord Cochrane, 
but he did not hoist his flag on board of her until the 22d. There 
had been a petty scheming and intriguing cabal among the officers 
already in Chile, who, rather than see one so superior to them all at 
their head, or perhaps afraid lest he should lead them into danger, 
actually endeavoured to bring about a sort of divided command, 
wishing, as they said, two commodores and no Cochrane. This was 
not merely the cry of the English officers, they had gained some of 
the inferior ministers, whose jealousy of a nobleman and a foreigner 
it was not difficult to excite ; but Admiral Blanco, the only man whose 
rank and interest were really likely to be affected by Lord Coch- 
rane’s arrival, cordially supported him, convinced that he was the 
only proper person for the situation. 
Such was the state of the naval affairs of Chile at the close of the 
year 1818, the most eventful in the history of the country since its. 
discovery. It will be necessary to go back a few months, in order to 
notice the state of the civil government. 
On the first appointment of the director, all power, legislative as 
well as executive, devolved necessarily on him. No monarch is ever 
so absolute, for the moment, as a military chief just successful, es- 
* If I had less cause for gratitude towards Lord Cochrane, I should probably do 
more justice to him, but to speak of him as he should be spoken of, would require not only 
an abler pen, but feelings more free from that sensitiveness that makes a friend modest in 
speaking of friend, as though he were a part of himself. 
