376 7 APPENDIX. 
ation of the time fixed, emissaries had been sent to the army of Conception 
by Carrera : by. their generous offers matters were amicably adjusted, a 
reconciliation and coalition of parties was effected, and the enterprise of 
removing the seat of government to Conception was totally destroyed. 
The Spaniards having received reinforcements from Lima, Chiloe,- and 
Coquimbo, began to concentrate themselves in the south of Chile, in order 
to oppose the progress of Carrera, who was not remiss in his preparations to 
meet them. He nominated a Vice-President in his absence, and marched 
to encounter them with the united forces of Chile and Conception. An infi- 
nity of actions, sieges, and skirmishes succeeded, in which the Americans, 
though little experienced in war, were generally victorious over. their 
oppressors. 
It was in these guerillas that Don Bernardo O’Higgins (now Supreme 
Director of Chile) first distinguished himself. His father was a native of 
of Ireland, who had served some time in the English army ; but not meeting 
the attention or preferment which he considered as due to his merit, he 
resigned, and passing to Spain, received an appointment in the army of that 
country; from whence he accompanied an expedition to Chile, where he 
evinced so much intrepidity, prudence, and application, in a war against the 
Indians, as induced His Catholic Majesty to create him a brigadier of his ser- 
vice, and captain-general of Chile. He discharged the duties of these high 
offices to the general satisfaction of his king and the people. He did not ne- 
glect the education of Don Bernardo, who was but a natural son by a woman 
named Isabella Riguelme, whose morals (it is said) were not altogether irre- 
proachable. He was sent to England when young, where he continued 
some time in an academy or college. At the commencement of the revo- 
lution he resided on a farm which was bequeathed him by his father. His 
military rank was captain of country militias; but, in consequence of his 
extraordinary courage and serenity in several actions against the Spaniards, 
Carrera promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the army of 
the line, as an encouragement to valour among his officers. O’ Higgins 
continued to merit the esteem of his general, and almost every action 
brought him new honours: he attained at last the rank of brigadier-general ; 
and Carrera placed in him as much confidence as he did in either of his 
brothers. , 
Subsequent to these flattering marks of favour and distinction with which 
he had been honoured, Carrera and his brothers were shut up in the garrison 
