VALPARAISO. 9297 
however, I have spent very agreeably to myself, chiefly at the Ad- 
* miral’s tents; but that is far enough from the town not to hear its 
noise. Having lodged Glennie at the tents, I returned to the town 
and called on the Director, who is living in the government-house ; 
and Zenteno and his family are gone to another. His Excellency 
looks very well, and received me as courteously as I could wish ; and, 
according to the custom of the country, as soon as I was seated pre- 
sented me with a flower. I know not how it happened, but the dis- 
course turned on nunneries, and I mentioned the Philippine nuns in 
Rome ; on which he begged to have a particular notice of them and 
their rule, in order to better the condition, if possible, of the nuns of 
Chile, and especially of such as superintend the education of young 
girls. This I promised; and as soon as I came home, sent him such 
notices as [ had, with references to the ecclesiastical histories I sup- 
pose he can command in the public library. I little thought, when 
visiting in the parlour of that convent, which was once Cesar Borgia’s 
palace, and looking over the ruins of Rome from its galleries, painted 
by Domenichino, I think, that that visit might become of consequence 
to ‘the forlorn recluses of Chile! 
Having paid my visits, I returned to the tents, and found dist my 
patient had been sleeping quietly. Lord Cochrane, much interested 
in him, kindly pressed me to take him for change of air to Quintero, 
which I am most willing to do; and as soon as he is strong enough, 
I mean to go. The Admiral himself does not look very well, but 
that is not marvellous ; the squadron is still unpaid. The charges 
preferred against him by San Martin, though never credited by the 
government, which possesses abundant documents in its own hands to 
refute them, have remained uncontradicted by him, at the request of 
that government, in order to avoid exciting party spirit, or a quarrel, 
perhaps a war, between Peru and Chile. Bae now that all danger of 
that kind is over, and as San Martin is honoured by having the palace 
itself appointed for his residence, and receives every mark of public 
attention, as if on purpose to insult Lord Cochrane, those charges 
should and will be answered; and answered too with facts and dates 
which will completely overwhelm all the accusations, direct and in- 
QQ 
