938 JOURNAL. 
Director ‘readily led the conversation to the affairs of Chile, and to 
the events of his own life.* Of the recent affairs in Peru (the dis- 
placing Monteagudo, &c.) he expressed himself with regret, consider- 
ing that minister’s conduct, and the consequences of it, as a stain on 
the good cause. I wish I had dared to hint, that a conduct as bad, 
though in a different way, in Rodriguez, his own minister, was pro- 
ducing effects at least as vexatious here. 
We walked a good deal about the gardens, and amused ourselves 
for some time with a fine telescope; through which the Director 
pointed out to me many farms on the plain of Maypu, in the line 
of the canal of irrigation which he has made since he was Director, 
where all was formerly barren, and behind whose thickets robbers 
and murderers concealed themselves, so that the roads were unsafe. 
These ruffians have now disappeared, and peaceful farms occupy the 
ground. From the garden we went in to dinner, where all was plain 
and handsome. English neatness gave the Chileno dishes every thing 
I had ever thought wanting in them. Dofia Isabella, Dofia Rosa, 
Dofia Xaviera the Director’s niece a beautiful young woman, and 
one aide-de-camp, besides ourselves, formed the whole party. The 
little Indians had a low table in the corner, where the little daugh- 
ter of the Cacique presided; and where they were served with as 
much respect as Dojia Rosa herself: The entrance of some strangers 
after dinner put an end to all confidential intercourse; and I then 
walked about the house with Dojfia Isabella. The ladies’ bed-rooms 
are neat and comfortable every way. The Director, when here, 
sleeps on a little portable camp-bed; and to judge by his room, is 
not very studious of personal accommodation. At sunset we re- 
turned to town, and at the same time His Excellency’s family went 
thither also to attend the opera, which Dofia Rosa never misses. 
Their equipage is English ; and though plain, handsome. 
* By his permission, I have made use of this conversation in the sketch of the History 
of Chile. 
