A VOYAGE TO 



chief magistrate of Buenos Ayres, There was one 

 sentiment uttered by him^ which, in my conception, 

 was incompatible with genuine patriotism. He ob- 

 I served, in substance, that as long as the country was 

 still in danger from Spain, it would be well enough to 

 accept the aid of the army of San Martin; but, that as 

 soon as the Spaniards were driven off, the army of 

 Buenos Ayres might be expelled in turn! From this, it 

 was natural for me to infer, that he had already endea- 

 vored to excite his partisans in Chili to raise the stand- 

 ard of civil war; but that on the approach of a new 

 danger from the common enemy, he had resolved to 

 postpone his design, until they were a second time 

 driven out by San Martin. For my part, 1 could see 

 no object to be answered by such an act, but that of 

 placing the family of Carrera in power. The story of 

 Buenos Ayres having made a conquest of Chili, and 

 intending to hold it under a kind of subjection, nearly 

 as bad as that of Spain, is not worth a refutation. 

 That some temporary political influence is exerted by 

 Buenos Ayres, I have no doubt; and it is a salutary 

 one; it will keep down, at least until the danger from 

 Spain be passed, the two rival factions of the country, 

 which have already caused so much mischief. The 

 common mind can easily discover great advantage in 

 the strict union between Chili and Buenos Ayres, un- 

 til their independence shall be established; it would be 

 an incredible act of madness and fully on the part of 

 the latter, to be actuated by the thirst of conquest, 

 when engaged in a doubtful contest for existence, or 

 to oppress their own brethren, when they must stand 

 so much in need of their friendship and assistance^ 

 Besides, to think of holding them in a state of sub- 



