SOUTH AMERICA. 



367 



more than things of a thousand times greater import- 

 ance. In passing by the pyramid, in the great square, 

 I observed that some preparations had been making 

 for an approaching illumination, on account of the de- 

 claration of independence by Chili; I asked a little 

 boy, who was playing about it, what was the meaning 

 of these preparations? "For la funcion;^^ "que fun- 

 eionP'^ "Lafunciondelosdiputadosj^'ssi'id he pettishly; 

 as if surprised at my ignorance "de los diputados que han 

 llegado de la America del norteJ^* I have no doubt the 

 government and the people, will make the most of the 

 mission; and it will certainly have a most powerful 

 moral influence on the cause of South America. And 

 what is this moral effect? History and experience suf- 

 ficiently shew that it is great, whatever may be the 

 cause. Man is a moral agent, governed by intelli- 

 gence, and urged forward by the impulse of his feel- 

 ings and passions. This is the fountain and secret of 

 bis strength and power. All the worth and value of 

 man, in society, is made up of honor, character, esti- 

 mation and opinion. 



Some may be disposed to ask, what this moral ef- 

 fect can be? I am surprised that any one should not be 

 able to conceive it, and it is one of those things that we 

 feel impatience in analysing. None but saints and 

 savages, are absolutely beyond the sphere of this mo- 

 ral influence. In being noticed by a respectable na- 

 tion, these people are led to think that their arduous 

 contest is at last drawing to a close, and that the world 



* **For the celebration;" "What celebration?" "The celebration 

 of the deputies — the deputies who have arrived from North Ame- 

 rica." 



