XV VALPARAISO 359 



had descended, and reached in the evening a cottage nc^r the 

 Villa de St. Rosa. The fertility of the plain was delightful : 

 the autumn being advanced, the leaves of many of the fruit- 

 trees were falling ; and of the labourers, — some were busy in 

 drying figs and peaches on the roofs of their cottages, while 

 others were gathering the grapes from the vineyards. It was 

 a pretty scene ; but I missed that pensive stillness which makes 

 the autumn in England indeed the evening of the year. On 

 the lOth we reached Santiago, where I received a very kind 

 and hospitable reception from Mr. Caldcleugh. My excursion 

 only cost me twenty-four days, and never did I more deeply 

 enjoy an equal space of time. A few days afterwards I 

 returned to Mr. Corfield's house at Valparaiso. 



