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Valparaiso numbers thirty thousand inhabitants, and is one of the 

 most flourishing seaports in the world. Its population has quintupled 

 within the last twenty years, and it is rapidly advancing in every 

 improvement, growing out of an increasing foreign commerce, and 

 the enterprise of its inhabitants, fostered and encouraged as they are 

 by government. 



The mining districts are to the north, and the grain country to the 

 south. Extensive flour-mills are now at work in Concepcion and its 

 neighbourhood : the machinery is brought from the United States. 



The recognised internal national debt is about $2,000,000, of which 

 sum 8800,000 is consolidated, bearing an annual interest of from two 

 to six per cent. The government was about to consolidate the re- 

 mainder, when their attention was called to other expenses abroad. 

 The foreign debt is a loan from England, taken in 1822, of £1,000,000, 

 with the interest now due, will not fall far short of $8,000,000. 



There is very little variation in the climate. During what is called 

 the winter, when the rains prevail, between the 1st of May and the 1st 

 of September, the thermometer occasionally falls for a few hours to 

 52°, but the mean of it throughout the year, at mid-day, would be 65°. 

 During the dry season, from September to May, the thermometer at 

 times reaches 78° to 80°. In the evening and morning, it is at 60°. 



Fruits are abundant in their season : apples, pears, apricots, necta- 

 rines, plums, peaches, cherries, &c. ; figs, grapes, strawberries, oranges, 

 limes, and every variety of vegetable. 



The present administration is composed of 



General Joaquim Prieto, President : term of office five years ; eligible 

 for a second, but not a third successive term. 



Don Joaquim Torconal, Minister of Foreign Relations, and Acting 

 Minister of the Hacienda, or Treasury. 



Don Ramen Cavareda, Minister of War and Marine. 



Don Mariano Egano, Minister of the Interior and Justice. 



EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 



The President of the Supreme Court of Justice, 



The President of the High Court of Appeals, 



The Reverend Bishop of Santiago, and Apostolic Vicar, 



A General of Division, 



The Minister of the Estanco, or Government Monopolies, 



Two Ex-Ministers, 



Two Judges, and 



A Secretary of the Council. 



