VALPARAISO. 987 
given for a single strawberry on their first ripening, but now a real 
will purchase more than two persons could eat. 
26th. — The Lautaro arrived from Talcahuana under most uncom- 
fortable circumstances : she has had a serious mutiny on board, occa- 
sioned by the want of food and other necessaries while in the south ; 
and the officers themselves felt so severely the same evils, that they 
could not restrain the men, as in any other case they might have 
done. As soon as the ship went to a neighbouring port, where she 
could procure provisions, the people returned to their duty ; and the 
captain and officers would fain have passed over the whole thing, but 
the mutiny was already reported to government, and it is said that it 
is determined to punish some of the ringleaders. I trust, however, 
that in their justice they will remember mercy, and think of the wants 
that exasperated the crew and their good conduct afterwards. 
We learn that Lord Cochrane is gone to the city on business con- 
nected with the squadron; and as he is said to be living with the 
Director, it is hoped that at length the government will do justice in 
its naval department. 
October 31st.-—- This month has been a most important one for 
Chile. The government has promulgated its new constitution and its 
new commercial regulations, neither of which appear to me to an- 
swer their purpose. 
The reglamento, or commercial regulation, begins by a long pre- 
amble, addressed by the minister of the interior to the convention 
on laying before it the rules drawn up by a committee composed 
partly of ministers and partly of merchants: I understand not much 
of these things ; but there are passages so opposite to common sense, 
that a child must be struck with them. The three first sections 
concern the establishment and subordination of custom-house officers, 
of whom some are to be stationary and some ambulatory ; the latter 
are to be obeyed wherever they are met, on the hills, in the road, or 
out of it, in all weathers. They are to have a copper badge about 
the size of a crown-piece, which they are to wear concealed ; and yet 
if they stop a cargo in the midst of the widest plain, or in the worst 
