299 JOURNAL. 
state of humanity, will believe ; but I will hope that most of these 
changes have bettered the general condition of human nature. How 
long I might have gone on musing I do not know, if the Vice-Pre- 
sident and Secretary had not interrupted the silence that followed 
the resolution passed when we entered, by reading the report of it to 
the President, who having approved of it, the house proceeded. The 
President then read’ a message from the Director, submitting to the 
assembly the propriety of sending envoys to different foreign states, 
and desiring them to appoint proper salaries. This gave rise to a 
lively discussion of a much freer tone than I had expected in so 
young a convention, especially one appointed by the executive power 
alone. To the expediency of sending the envoys there was no 
opposition ; but on the appointing salaries there were several ques- 
tions ;— first, could it be done before the actual revenue of the 
country was ascertained and reported to the convention; and next, 
could a grant of money be made for a new purpose while the army 
was so greatly in arrear (upwards of 18,000 dollars)? They might 
- have added the navy also. The speech of the President on opening 
the business, and also his reply to the proposed amendment request- 
ing that the public accounts should be looked into before funds were 
allotted for such a purpose, were extremely clever, and delivered with 
the ease and eloquence of a man accustomed to speak in public: he 
is a priest. The discussion was very warm, but carried on with great 
decorum, the members, in their ordinary dresses, standing up in their 
places ; and when two rose at once, he that first caught the President’s 
eye had the preference. 
I was very much gratified with my visit to the convention, and 
withdrew from it with hopes of a speedier and firmer settlement of a 
regular government here than I had hitherto allowed myself to 
entertain. 
It seems to me, that the progress made is astonishing; but I 
believe that men, like other articles, arise when there is a demand 
for them. There are elements in Chile for the formation of a state; 
but education is wanting before that which essentially constitutes a 
state will be found; i.e. — 
