porter's journal. 107 



dashing, native Chilians, and the adverse party are invaria- 

 bly crusty, old, formal Castilians. The patriots have not 

 yet openly declared themselves independent, nor has any 

 declaration of war taken place between them and the Pe- 

 ruvians. Yet they have done what nearly amounts to the 

 same thing ; they have formed for themselves a constitu- 

 tion, one article of which punishes with death any person, 

 residing in Chili, who shall keep up any secret intelligence 

 with, or execute any order from, any power not resident 

 within the state. 



After the governor's party had broken up, Mr. Poinsett 

 and don Lewis took their leave of me to proceed to St. 

 Jago. From thence they were to accompany the presi- 

 dent to Conception, with a view of fortifying and making 

 the place more secure against foreign invasion. 



Before my departure, I wrote a letter to commodore Bain- 

 bridge, enclosed it to the minister at Rio Janeiro, and sent 

 them to Mr. Poinsett to be forwarded. 



I shall now take my leave of Valparaiso, and continue 

 my cruise. 



