XV 
VALPARAISO 
359 
had descended, and reached in the evening a cottage near the 
Villa de St. Rosa. The fertility of the plain was delightful : 
the autumn being advanced, the leaves of many of the fruit- 
trees were falling ; and of the labourers,—some were busy in 
drying figs and peaches on the roofs of their cottages, while 
others were gathering the grapes from the vineyards. It was 
a pretty scene ; but I missed that pensive stillness which makes 
the autumn in England indeed the evening of the year. On 
the loth we reached Santiago, where I received a very kind 
and hospitable reception from Mr. Caldcleugh. My excursion 
only cost me twenty-four days, and never did I more deeply 
enjoy an equal space of time. A few days afterwards I 
returned to Mr. Corfield’s house at Valparaiso. 
