SANTIAGO. 23] 
I spent the evening in my room, where the young ladies came 
occasionally to me; and Mr. De Roos, Don Jose Antonio, and Don 
Domingo Reyes, spent the evening. Don Domingo is a grave, 
well-informed, kindly person, to whom I am obliged for much of the 
knowledge I have of the country, both historical and physical. His 
father was secretary to Don Ambrose O’ Higgins, and to several other 
captains-general ; he was even so to Osorio, in the interval between 
the battle of Rancagua and that of Chacabuco, after which he emi- 
grated. But his conduct had always been so honest and honourable 
that all parties trusted him, and none disliked him. He was there- 
fore recalled, his property restored, and himself employed. The 
character of Don Domingos is one formed by the times: a pre-emi- 
nent point in it is love for the father he has seen so tried. And he 
is pious, — I should say almost to superstition, did I not know what a 
life he has seen; yet he is quietly cheerful, and actively kind to his 
friends, and possesses a most affectionate disposition. My friend 
Don Antonio has neither the knowledge, nor intelligence, nor cul- 
tivation of Reyes; but he is good-natured and kind-hearted. He 
takes half a dozen matees when he first rises, smokes segars all-day, 
goes to his counting-house I believe regularly, and at night loves to 
dance cuandos, and sing, and play the guitar better elsewhere than at 
home; all this is not very unnatural, and moreover not inconsistent 
with the character of a Chile beau: to-night he sung and played very 
pleasantly several of the songs with which the young gentlemen of 
Chile serenade their loves ; a custom at least as prevalent here as in 
Italy. After all, the most beautiful thing of the kind in the world is 
Shakspeare’s own, “ Hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings ;” which 
puts to shame all other minstrelsy to ladies sleeping, or waking in the 
hope of hearing music. 
Thursday, Sept. 5th. — A large party, consisting of the whole of the 
Cotapos family, and a number of others, amounting to thirty, includ- 
ing Mr. Prevost, Mr. De Roos, and myself, spent a day in the country. 
The ladies who did not ride went in carretons, small covered vehicles 
of the country, in which they sit on carpets and cushions. The ser- 
