The- TOWN o f V .A L P A R A I S O m //>r COAST Fandy beach; near the upper margin of which, and on the (ides of the D9*c
adjacent hills was feen the town of Valparaifo; and although from its '— v—
fituation it could not boaft of much pleafantnefs, yet in this point of
view it appeared to be neat, of confiderable extent, and built with regularity
; the churches rofe above the other buildings, and the whole
being defended by fey era! forts, all confpired at once to announce, that
we were again approaching towards the civilized world.
In the bay and near to the (hore rode feveral fail of merchant (hips,
engaged in their refpe&ive occupations; to and from which boats were
paffing and re-paffing to the (hore, where a very lively fcenewas exhibited
of men and cattle •, the whole exhibiting that fort of commercial inter-
courfe between diftant countries, that the arts and civilization can alone
carry into effeft. This pleaftng profpeft of at length drawing towards
our native country, after fo long an abfence amongft the rude, yet hof-
pitabte, nations o f the earth, was however not unmixed with forebodings
of a painful nature, left the intelligence refpe&ing the diftra&ed ftate
of Europe, which we had but too much reafon to apprehend would
meet us on vifiting thefe (hores,' ffiould be of a more melancholy complexion
than we had anticipated.
, The wind from, the fouthward blowing direftly out of the bay, obliged
us to make fome trips for the purpofe of reaching a proper fituation for
anchoring, which was accomplilhed about three o’clock in 10 fathoms
water, muddy bottom.
An officer was immediately difpatched to inform the governor of our arrival,
of the occafion of our vifit, and o f the afliftance we required. A (hip
that had been feen in the offing in the morning anchored foon after us, and,
together with the Difcovery and Chatham, made ten fail.oFveflels riding
in the bay; of thefe five (hips and two brigs were Spanifh merchantmen,
and the other the Lightning of Briftol, a South fea whaler, commanded
by a Mr. Cook ; from whom we received little encouragement to hope
for fuch a reception at Vaplaraifo, as we confidered we had a right to
expefft, or as our fituation demanded.. Soon after we ,had anchored,
however, and during the abfence of Mr. Manby, who was the officer
fent to the governor, a Spanifh officer came On board with congratula-
q F 2 |H | r ... tions