SOUTH AMERICA, 



2S5 



States, and was much pleased with his modest unas- 

 suming deportment. But doubts had been raised in 

 my mind as to the true character of his patriotism. 

 ^^The outline of the revolutions in South America/' a 

 work which blears the character of impartiality, and 

 which certainly evinces abilities, represents his con- 

 duct, in the political transactions of Chili, as actuated 

 by an inordinate ambition to secure power in his own 

 hands, to which the misfortunes of his country are 

 chiefly attributed. The accounts published in our 

 newspapers, tending to bring the patriot cause into 

 disrepute, though apparently designed merely to dis- 

 credit those who had the management of affairs, I had 

 reason to believe, were principally derived from him, 

 and looked as if resentment against those who had re- 

 cently directed the contest with so much success, was 

 in his breast the predominating passion. This might 

 be expected in ordinary men, in the middle and mixed 

 character, but not in heroes such as Plutarch holds up 

 as models. Without saying any thing of his abilities, 

 which I did not think very extraordinary, I judged 

 from the sentiments which he expressed, that he was 

 more of a Coriolanus than a Themistocles. That is, 

 more likely to turn his sword against his country for 

 the gratification of revenge, than to destroy himself, 

 rather than take sides with her enemies against her. 

 He seemed to me one of those we should call in pros- 

 perity a fine fellow, possessing popular and pleasing 

 manners, but without the extraordinary talents or lofty 

 sentiments, which render men respected in adversity. 

 It is possible, if he had been permitted to continue at 

 the head of affairs in Chili, he would have been an or- 

 nament to his country; but when deprived of this, ha 



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