VALPARAISO. 175 
the little harbours and creeks of the shore as we passed rapidly along, 
and by our situation on board the first vessel that has brought to these 
seas the most complete triumph of the genius of man over the ob- 
stacles presented by brute matter. I trust the time is not far distant, 
when the Rising Star will not be the only steam-vessel on the coast, 
and that the wise and benevolent views with which she was brought 
out will be fulfilled.* Nothing can be better adapted for packets on 
these coasts. The regular winds which now force ships out as far as 
Juan Fernandez, in order to make a reasonable passage from Lima 
to Valparaiso, are never so strong as to hinder the working of a 
steam ship ; and the facility of communication between these as well 
as the intermediate ports would not only promote their commercial 
interests, but be a means of security against the attempts of any 
enemy these countries have to fear from abroad. As long as Europe 
continues quiet, and until Spain recovers from the madness of civil 
dissension, perhaps South America is safe enough from foreign inva- 
sion: but if any of the powers that have not acknowledged the inde- 
pendence of the states should go to war with Spain, who can say 
whether, availing themselves of not having made that acknowledge- 
ment, they might not be disposed to seize on some part of them as 
provinces de jure belonging to the mother-country ; and I confess 
that a French invasion (for I will not think England so wicked) 
would be a most fearful misfortune to these rising states, and one 
from which nothing but a naval force could defend them. 
I had as much conversation with Zenteno as my yet imperfect 
knowledge of Spanish would permit. He seems truly desirous of 
the good of Chile ; but wonderfully unknowing in those things which 
would most contribute to it. The morning, however, passed plea- 
santly away ; and we sat down to a table which Europe and America 
equally supplied with luxuries; and amused ourselves, perhaps un- 
* All the materials for two smaller steam-vessels were carried to Valparaiso; but I find 
that instead of constructing them properly on their arrival, the machinery has been left in 
the warehouse which first received it, and the timber applied to the building a ministerial 
trader, by which Zenteno and his partner have made large sums. — 1824. : 
