SANTIAGO. 237 
so that he has caused that imposition to cease : besides, his purchas- 
ing, building, and planting to the extent he is doing, gives people 
confidence in the stability of the government; and that confidence 
of itself will contribute to the stability it looks to. This is rather 
a remarkable day in Chile: Rodriguez the bishop, who has long 
been an exile on account of his political principles, and his inter. 
ference in state matters, has at length been recalled. A few days 
since he came privately to his lodge at Nnufioa; and to-day he made 
his first public appearance in the cathedral. Before that ceremony 
he waited on the Director, who congratulated him on his return to 
his diocese, telling him he trusted that he would henceforth remem- 
ber that the advancement of the age and of public opinion demanded 
a more liberal feeling and action in ecclesiastical matters, than was 
the case formerly ; that he trusted to His Lordship’s good sense to 
shape his conduct accordingly: but that while he was Director of 
Chile, neither pope nor priest should possess temporal power, or a 
right of exemption from the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the 
country. The bishop then proceeded to take fresh possession of the 
see, with what appetite he might; and performed a solemn Mass 
himself in the cathedral on the occasion. His restoration has given 
satisfaction to many of the devout, who have languished for their 
spiritual pastor; to numerous private connections, by whom the 
bishop is beloved ; and more than all, to the families of persons exiled 
for political crimes, because seeing the greatest of these recalled, they 
may entertain hopes of the restoration of others. * 
Fortunately for us there were no strangers but ourselves; and the 
* A few days before I came to Santiago, the festival of St. Bernardo, the Director’s 
patron, was. celebrated. It had been the old Spanish custom for the captains-general of 
the province to grant some boon on their birth-days or saints’-days; and this year the 
Director was entreated to mark his feast by the recall of the exiles. He answered, “ No :” 
I am but a private citizen, and have no business to distinguish my day ; but if you apply 
to the Convention to mark the 18th of September, the anniversary of your independence, 
by such an act of grace, I will support the request with all the power and all the influence 
T possess.” 
