feet high and four broad, beautifully paved with small stones, like mosaic work, and affording a dry passage at all seasons, from one end of the city to the other. Of this work, as well as the mint, Ambrosio O'Higgins, father of the late Supreme Director of Chile, was the projector. This bold Irish adventurer, indeed, has left behind him many noble monuments of an exalted and comprehensive genius, in every part of the continent to which his singular fortunes guided him. The great road from Santiago to Valparaiso was the fruit of his enterprise and public spirit, and the post houses on the summit of the Andes were built by his order. The celebrated road from Lima to Callao was constructed by him, after he had risen by his talents alone to the elevated station of Viceroy of Peru. His projects were all on a grand scale, and they all aimed at public good. It may be doubted whether the history of any individual, connected with the Spanish South American provinces, during the colonial servitude, would appear to better advantage, or be contemplated with more satisfaction, than that of the deeds and character of Ambrosio O'Higgins.

As nothing approaching an accurate census of the capital of Chile has been taken, it is impossible to tell how many inhabitants it contains. The common answer to the question in the city itself is, bastantes miles, many thousands. Some travellers represent the city to be nearly as large in compass as Philadelphia, and although its houses are incomparably inferior in every other respect, they are better stocked with inhabitants. No estimate of the actual number can be made, however, from this comparison, because the houses of cities in warm climates are more scattered, and occupy more space, than in colder regions. It is believed by recent observers, that the population of the state of Chile has been put too low. It was supposed at the beginning of the revolution to be under two millions. It has lately been thought to contain more than three. But everything on this subject is conjecture. No census has been taken, or can be taken for the present. Such has been the influence of the old government, that an attempt of this sort would be suspected at once, and fail of its ends. The common people would fear an impressment for the army, and fly into the mountains; and the better orders would think of nothing but some scheme on the part of the government to levy a new tax, and they would practise deception and evasion. A census taken under these circumstances would tell no truth, and be of no value.

The revolution in Chile began in July, 1810, when the captain general, Carrasco, was compelled by the inhabitants of Santiago to resign his command, and the Count de la Conquista was appointed to take his place. Shortly after a plan of a new government was formed by an assembly, which voluntarily collected for the purpose. The supreme power was invested in a junta, of which the Count de la Conquista was president. This junta issued a summons for deputies to be sent from all parts of Chile to a general congress, and at the same time prescribed the method of election. Some disturbances occurred in prosecuting the election at Santiago, but delegates were at length chosen throughout the country, and a congress was convened. Here new seeds of discord began to germinate, by reason of the great number of members attending the congress, their disproportion in different districts, and the alleged illegality of the manner in which many of them had been chosen. A strong discontented party sprang up, at the head of which were three brothers, by the name of Carrera, sons of a rich landholder in Santiago. At this period Mr Poinsett, our present minister in Mexico, was in Chile; and he took an active and responsible part with the Carreras, and is understood to have rendered them much assistance by his counsels and personal services. The military adhered to this party, and the cry for reform became every day more loud and imperious. This point was partially carried in September, 1811, and the congress proceeded to institute and recommend a plan of government. The Carreras were not satisfied, their party gained strength, and in November, they compelled the congress to appoint a new junta consisting of three members, one of whom was the eldest brother, Don José Miguel Carrera. By this junta an additional regiment of cavalry was raised, and Carrera was made colonel. His two brothers, Juan José Carrera, and Luis Carrera, were also officers in the army, the one major of grenadiers, and the other captain of artillery. Having thus the military on their side, the Carreras may be said to have been at the head of the government at this time; and through various commotions and vicissitudes they maintained their power and influence for nearly three years. They had many enemies, of course, and when the royalists were reinforced from Peru, and began to press heavily upon the country, the torrent of disapprobation was too strong for them to withstand. José Miguel Carrera was superseded in the command of the VOL, XXIV.No. 55.

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army by Bernardo O'Higgins. This change lighted the torch of civil war, but the necessity of union to resist the common enemy, prevented any very serious consequences. Two of the Carreras were taken prisoners by the royalists, and carried to Chillan, but they found means to escape. At length came on the decisive battle of Rancagua, in October, 1814, where the patriots were defeated, and the royalists gained entire possession of Chile. The Carreras fled across the Andes to Mendoza with several hundred troops. More than two thousand patriots sought refuge in the same quarter, others were persecuted and punished in various ways, and a large number was exiled to the island of Juan Fernandez.

The government of Buenos Aires took a lively interest in the fate of Chile, and a plan was shortly devised for dispossessing the royalists of their acquisitions. The safety of Buenos Aires itself demanded this step. Troops were therefore gradually sent to Mendoza to unite with those from Chile, and the whole were put under the command of General San Martin. They amounted at last to four thousand, and with this army San Martin crossed the Andes in January, 1817. The army was formed in two divisions, one of which was commanded by O'Higgins. This passage of the Andes with such an army, and all its military accompaniments, has justly been considered a great enterprise, proving the resources, zeal, and energy of the general. The combined army met the royalists, and gained a brilliant victory at Chacabuco, fifty miles from Santiago, to which city San Martin advanced without further opposition. A congress of the principal inhabitants was immediately convened, and San Martin was chosen Supreme Director of Chile. He declined the appointment, and by his influence Bernardo O'Higgins was raised to that office. The royalists retired to Talcahuana, a sea port in the south of Chile, where they were reinforced from Peru, till their numbers became again formidable to the patriots. The cause of liberty remained in suspense till the 5th of April, 1818, when the great battle of Maypu was fought, the Spanish army completely routed, and the independence of Chile established. O'Higgins continued to be Supreme Director, although San Martin was commander in chief of the army, till his expedition to Peru, which took place in 1820. O'Higgins was afterwards removed, and he retired to Lima. By the last intelligence concerning his movements, he had found means to take pos

session of the Isles of Chiloe, with the view, it was supposed, of regaining his lost power in Chile. His successor was Freyré, who is still at the head of the government.

The fate of the Carreras was a melancholy one. The two younger brothers were barbarously executed in Mendoza, after having been condemned for the part they took in endeavoring to reestablish themselves in Chile. The eldest brother, José Miguel, resolved to revenge this injury. He retired to Buenos Aires, and afterwards came to the United States, seeking supplies of money and men. On his return we find him in the neighborhood of Buenos Aires, at the head of a small body of forces, natives and foreigners, Gauchos of the plains, and a few English, French, and American sailors and soldiers. His progress was viewed with some uneasiness by the government of Buenos Aires, and not less so by that of Chile, where he was known to possess many powerful partisans. The lower orders, and the soldiery, still cherished the remembrance of his rule, and were devoted to him, for, during his power, he had proved himself a good politician and an accomplished courtier. He had always asked as a favor, what he might have demanded as a right, and the people delighted to recount the instances of his condescension, affability, and munificence.

In his march across the Pampas he had several skirmishes with the garrisons of the different military posts. He found means to correspond with his friends in Santiago, and no doubt received supplies from that place. It was at this period of his career, that a conspiracy in his favor was detected on the eve of its successful execution. The Director, O'Higgins, displayed at this moment his characteristic intrepidity. He entered alone at midnight a room, filled with conspirators against his government and life; he commanded them instantly to disperse, and owe their lives to his clemency. They did not wait for a repetition of the command, but fled precipitately, leaving some of their papers behind them. Carrera passed the Pampas with no other difficulty, than such as arose from the nature of the country. He took and pillaged San Luis, and advanced leisurely towards Mendoza. At this time he is said to have been deceived in regard to the state of public feeling respecting him in that quarter, and indeed we can in no other way account for the fatal rashness of his measures. The government of Chile had watched his progress, and taken care to

prepare the Mendozans for his reception. He thus found himself in the vicinity of Mendoza, in January, 1822, with about a thousand troops. Leaving the greater part of them at Retano, nearly forty miles from the town, he advanced with about three hundred horse. Meantime all the regular troops and militia of Mendoza had marched out to meet him. He first encountered a body of horse, not equal to his own, which he attacked. They opened,, and displayed a large body of infantry, which had been concealed from his observation. Flight was now his only resort, and he arrived at Retano, pursued by the enemy. Here he resolved to make a stand, and at least to sell his life dearly. When attacked, however, he discovered that he had been betrayed by the officer left in command, who in his absence had held a correspondence with the enemy, and now went over to them with most of his men. Still Carrera fought, and seemed determined to defend himself though with a single arm; but surrounded and overwhelmed by numbers, he fell exhausted into their hands. He was immediately conducted to Mendoza, where, after a brief form of trial, he was executed on the very spot, that had hardly ceased smoking with the blood of his brothers.

Among the most interesting persons, who have appeared in the revolution of Chile, may be reckoned Manuel Rodriguez, the friend, adviser, and coadjutor of the Carreras. As far as a man's purposes can be understood from his professions and acts, it may be truly said of Rodriguez, that he had the liberty and equal rights of his countrymen, as well as their independence, really at heart. As far, at least, as the refusal of office and compensation for inestimable services in his country's cause, will go as an argument in his favor, we may believe him to have been governed by disinterested patriotism. Till recently, his fate has been involved in the deepest mystery; no one has pronounced his name but with the utmost caution, or scarcely heard it without crossing himself. He was equal in rank to his friends the Carreras, but he was destined to different pursuits in life, having devoted himself to the study of the law, in which profession he was rising to eminence.

At the commencement of the revolution he joined the patriot party, and adhered to it without wavering to the last. He was the Mentor of the Carreras, and when their fortunes declined, he accompanied them across the Andes. His spirit and exertions did not flag with their ill success; he enlisted in the cause