ARRIVAL AT VALPARAISO. 



135 



stowed, and it was pleasing to observe the effect 

 which all this produced in developing character. 

 Many people, who had always been cold and for- 

 mal before, came up and offered their hands with 

 a cordiality and frankness, quite contrary to what 

 had seemed their natural disposition, but which 

 proved ever afterwards sincere and steady. 



Just as I was leaving the house to return on 

 board, two young men came to inquire for their 

 sister, a widow lady, of whom they had not heard 

 for more than a year. It so happened that this 

 very person was one of my passengers, and nothing 

 would satisfy the brothers and their wives, and 

 two or three more, but going on board the Con- 

 way instantly, though it was near midnight. Ac- 

 cordingly I stowed the whole party in my boat, 

 and carried them off, to the great joy and asto- 

 nishment of the widow. 



As the Commander-in-chief was at the capital, 

 I proceeded there on the 23d to make my report. 

 On the 28th of March I set out from Santiago, 

 accompanied by one of the English residents and 

 a young officer of my ship, to pay a visit to a 

 Chilian gentleman who resided about eighteen 



