QUINTERO. 331 
muscles, dead and very offensive ; they had never been within reach 
of the tide since the 19th November. It was as fine a day as I ever 
remember. 
“ On the surface of the deep, 
The winds lay only not asleep ;” 
and as they stole through the woods of odoriferous shrubs, con- 
veyed an almost intoxicating feeling to the sense. I cannot conceive 
a finer climate than that of Chile, or one more delightful to inhabit ; 
and, now I am accustomed to the trembling of the earth, even that 
seems a less evil than I could have imagined. Old Purchas’s quaint 
description of Chile is as true as it appears singular from its antiquated 
garb.—*“ The poor valley,” says he, speaking of Chile, “is so ham- 
“‘ pered between the tyrannical meteors and elements, as that shee 
“often quaketh with feare, and in these chill fevers shaketh off 
“and loseth her best ornaments. Arequipa, one of her fairest 
“townes, by such disaster in the yeere 1582, fell to the ground. 
“‘ And sometimes the neighbour hilles are infected with this pes- 
“ tilent fever, and tumble down as dead in the plain; thereby 
“ so amazing the feareful rivers, that they runne out of their channels 
“to seeke new, or else stand still with wonder, and the motive 
“ heate failing, fall into an uncouth tympany, their bellies swelling 
“‘ into spacious and standing lakes: the tides, seeing this, hold back 
“their course, and dare not approach their sometime beloved 
“ streames by divers miles’ distance, so that betwixt these two 
“ stools the ships come to ground indeed. The sicke earth thus 
“ having her mouth stopped, and her stomache overlaied, forceth 
“ new mouthes, whence she vomiteth streams of oppressing waters. 
“ T speake not of the beastes and men, which, in these civil warres 
“ of nature, must needes bee subject to devouring miserie.” 
Dec. 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th. — There have been four shocks each 
day, accompanied by much noise; and we have heard several ex- 
plosions, without feeling any motion, like the noise os heavy guns at 
sea. Ihave been occupied in reading San Martin’s accusations ot 
Lord Cochrane, and His Lordship’s reply. ‘The accusations are as 
frivolous as they are base; and are exactly calculated to excite and 
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