146 JOURNAL. 
other views, — to descant with other feelings on the same occurrences. 
And though there be no intentional variation, some shades of cha- 
racter will be kept under by fear, some suppressed, it may be through 
modesty, and there are feelings for others which will blot out many 
more: yet the journal is true; true to nature, true to facts, and 
true to a better feeling than often dictates the momentary lines of 
spleen or suffering. This truth I solemnly engage myself to preserve. 
I cannot give, and I trust no one will demand, more. 
June 2d.— A rainy morning, and feeling cold, yet the thermometer 
not below 50° of Fahrenheit. While I was at breakfast, one of my 
little neighbours came running in, screaming out “ Sefiora, he is come! 
“he is come !’—* Who is come, child?” —* Our admiral, our great and 
good admiral; and if you come to the veranda, you will see the flags in 
the Almendral.” Accordingly, I looked out, and did see the Chilian 
flag hoisted at every door: and two ships more in the roads than there 
were yesterday. The O’Higgins and Valdivia had arrived during 
the night, and all the inhabitants of the port and suburbs had made 
haste to display their flags and their joy on Lord Cochrane’s safe re- 
turn. I am delighted at his arrival, not only because I want to see 
him, whom I look up to as my natural friend here *, but because I 
think he ought to have influence to mend some things, and to pre- 
vent others ; which, without such influence, will, I fear, prove highly 
detrimental to the rising state of Chile, if not to the general cause 
of South American independence. 
My mind, for a time after I arrived, was not sufficiently free to 
attend, with any degree of interest, to the political state of the coun- 
try: yet a measure of vital importance is now pending. 
On the first settlement of affairs after the battle of Chacabuco, 
Don Bernardo O’ Higgins had been chosen to preside over the nation, 
under the title of Supreme Director of Chile. A senate was chosen 
from among the respectable citizens to assist him, and a provisional 
* Captain Graham was a very young midshipman in the Thetis when Lord Cochrane 
was an elder one. Sir A. Cochrane was the captain. 
