POLITICAL FEELING IN CHILI. 185 



see the necessity of being acquainted with the 

 proceedings of other states. To this incipient 

 feeling of national dignity, they add a deep-seat- 

 ed and resolute enthusiasm in favour of indepen- 

 dence. 



Of civil liberty I am not sure that the Chilians 

 have as yet equally clear and correct notions ; 

 but nothing is more decided than their determi- 

 nation not to submit again to any foreign yoke ; 

 and I should conceive from all I have been able 

 to learn that, under any circumstances, the Span- 

 ish party in Chili would be found small and 

 contemptible. Every day deepens these valuable 

 sentiments, and will render the reconquest of the 

 country more and more remote from possibility. 

 The present free trade, above all, maintains and 

 augments these feelings ; for there is not a single 

 arrival at the port which fails to bring some new 

 article of use or of luxury, or which does not serve, 

 by lowering the former prices, to place within 

 reach of the inferior ranks many things known 

 before only to the wealthy ; to extend the range 

 of comforts and enjoyments ; and to open new 

 sources of industry. 



