VALPARAISO. 317 
tered my friends the Hogans, among many others, and there I was 
kindly invited to sleep. The reports I heard on arriving here once 
more awakened my attention to the affairs of Chile, which the more 
‘immediate feelings connected with the earthquake had made me, for 
the moment, lose sight of. 
At length the government had resolved to pay the squadron ; and 
the first plan, not uninfluenced, it is believed, by the counsels of San 
Martin, was to pay the men and petty officers before the officers ; 
also to pay them ashore, the pay-office being provided either with 
leave-tickets for four months, or discharges to give them on demand, 
so as to have left the ships, the ‘Admiral, and the officers in the har- 
bour, without a man. This plan, of course, the Admiral would not 
suffer, and therefore the payments are making on board: the first 
took place on the very day of the earthquake; and I have been told 
that the confusion of the scene in the streets on that disastrous night, 
was increased by the number of sailors ashore on leave, and making 
merry with their friends on their newly-received pay. They receive 
bills of twenty-five dollars ; four only of which they will get silver for, 
the rest they are compelled to expend in clothes at the shops set up 
for that purpose by Arcas in the port. 
This day the Independencia, the only effective ship of the squa- 
dron, was despatched without the Admiral’s leave, without even the 
formality of transmitting the orders through him! But Zenteno, as 
minister of marine, took upon himself to send her on a particular 
service. It is understood to be in pursuit of a vessel or vessels going 
to San Carlos of Chiloe with money and stores, which are to be in- 
tercepted. 
Monday, 25th. — So severe a shock took place at a quarter past 
eight o’clock this morning, as to shake down a great deal of what had 
been spared on the night of the 19th. Two others occurred in the 
course of the forenoon, and two after seven at night. I have been 
busy all day packing my books, clothes, &c., to remove ; because my 
house is let over my head to some persons who, seeing how well it 
