aid of sorae of my countrymen now in Italy who 

 recollect the principal events, to supply in some mea- 

 sure the want of a regular detail, and to give a suffi- 

 ciently accurate account of them. Having stated 

 these circumstances, I shall merely observe that, with- 

 out being influenced by national distinctions or pre- 

 judices, the chief merit to which I aspire in this 

 narration is that of impartiality. I have related no- 

 thing but what I have either found in those writers 

 upon Chili who have preceded me, or have received 

 from persons of unquestionable Veracity, and have 

 thought proper to confine myself to a plain narrative 

 of facts, and omit all reflections that might occur^ 

 in order nat to appear to be too much influenced in fa^ 

 vour of either of the contending parties. 



The attention of several philologists has of late 

 years been directed to the examination of the barba- 

 rous languages. For this reason I have been induced 

 to annex to this work some remarks upon the Chilian 

 tongue, which, from its structure and harmony, well 

 merits to be known. Several printed and manuscript 

 grammars of this language are to be met with, but 

 the one which I have principally used is that of 

 Febres, printed at Lima, in the year 1765, and de- 

 serving of particular recommendation for its method 

 and its clearness. 



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