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CHAP. XI.

Present State of Chili.

FROM the brief relation that we have given of the occurrences in Chili since its discovery, it will be seen that its possession has cost Spain more blood and treasure than all the rest of her settlements in America. The Araucanians, occupying but a small extent of territory, have with far inferior arms not only been able to counterbalance her power till then reputed irresistible, but to endanger the loss of her best established possessions. Though the greater part of her officers had been bred in that school of war, the low countries, and her soldiers, armed with those destructive weapons before which the most extensive empires of that continent had fallen, were considered as the best in the world, yet have this people succeeded in resisting them.

This will appear more wonderful when we call to mind the decided superiority that the discipline of Europe has ever given its troops in all parts of the world. The rapidity of the Spanish conquests excited universal astonishment. A few x 2

Portuguese gained possession of an extensive territory in the East, with a facility almost incredible, notwithstanding the number and strength of the natives, who were accustomed to the use of fire-arms. Their general, Pacheco, with a hundred and sixty of his countrymen, several times defeated the powerful Zamorin, who commanded an army of fifty thousand soldiers, well supplied with artillery, without the loss of a single man. Brito, who was besieged in Cananor, was equally successful in defeating a similar army. Even in our days, Mons. de la Touche, with three hundred French, put to flight an army of eighty thousand Indians, who had invested him in Pondicherry, and killed twelve hundred with the loss of only two of his men. Notwithstanding the combined efforts of force and skill, the Araucanians have constantly kept possession of their country. A free people, however inconsiderable in point of numbers, can perform wonders: The page of history teems with examples of this kind.

The Spaniards, since losing their settlements in Araucania, have prudently confined their views to establishing themselves firmly in that part of Chili, which lies between the southern confines of Peru and the river Bio-bio, and extends from the 24th to the 36th and a half degree of south latitude; this, as has been already mentioned,

they have divided into thirteen provinces.* They also possess the fortress of Valdivia, in the country of the Cunchese, the Archipelago of Chiloé, and the island of Juan Fernandez. These provinces are governed by an officer, who has usually the rank of lieutenant-general, and combines the title of president, governor, and captain-general of the kingdom of Chili. He resides in the city of St. Jago, and is solely dependant upon the king, except in case of war, when, in certain points, he receives his directions from the viceroy of Peru.

In quality of captain-general he commands the army, and has under him, not only the three principal officers of the kingdom, the quartermaster, the sergeant-major, and the commissary, but also the four governors of Chiloé, Valdivia, Valparaiso, and Juan Fernandez. As president and governor he has the supreme administration of justice, and presides over the superior tribunals of that capital, whose jurisdiction extends over all the Spanish provinces in those parts.

During the government of Jauregui, the province of Maule was divided into two, the river of that name, serving as the boundary for each: the part situated to the north of it retaining its former name, and that lying to the southward assuming that of Cauquenes its capital. Of late years a farther reduction of that province has taken place, by the separation from it on the north of three curacies, in order to form, with some of the lands of Calchagua, the new province of Curico:

The principal of these is the Tribunal of Audience, or Royal Senate, whose decision is final in all causes of importance both civil and criminal, and is divided into two courts, the one for the trial of civil, and the other for that of criminal causes. Both are composed of several respectable judges called auditors, of a regent, a fiscal or royal procurator, and a protector of the Indians. All these officers receive large salaries from the court. Their judgment is final, except in causes where the sum in litigation exceeds ten thousand dollars, when an appeal may be had to the supreme council of the Indies. Justice, as has been already observed, is universally agreed to be administered by them with the utmost impartiality. The other supreme courts are that of Finance, of the Cruzada, of Vacant Lands, and the Consulate or Tribunal of Commerce, which is wholly independent of any other of that kind.

The provinces are governed by Prefects, formerly called Corregidors, but at present known by the name of sub-delegates; these, according to the forms of their institution, should be of royal nomination, but, owing to the distance of the court, they are usually appointed by the captain-general, of whom they style themselves the lieutenants. They have jurisdiction both of civil and military affairs, and their emoluments of office depend entirely upon their fees, which

are by no means regular. In each capital of a province there is, or at least should be, a municipal magistracy called the Cabildo, which is composed, as in other parts of the Spanish dominions, of several members, called Regidores, who are appointed for life, of a standard-bearer, a procurator, a forensic judge, denominated the Provincial Alcalde, an Alguazil, or high sheriff, and of two consuls, or burgo-masters, called Alcaldes. The latter are chosen annually from among the principal nobility by the Cabildo itself, and have jurisdiction both in civil and criminal causes in the first instance.

The inhabitants are divided into regiments, which are obliged to march to the frontiers or the sea-coast in case of war.* : Besides this

* In the royal service, there are at present (1792) fifteen thousand eight hundred and fifty-six militia troops, enrolled in the two bishoprics of Santiago and Conception, ten thousand two hundred and eighteen in the first, and five thousand six hundred and thirty-eight in the latter. These military corps were first formed in 1777, during the government of Don Augustin de Jaregui, and consist of the choicest men in the kingdom. They are called out only upon public occasions, and seldoin perform the duty of sentinels or patroles, enjoying this privilege in consequence of always holding themselves ready for war, and continually exercising themselves in arms.

Besides this regular militia, there are a great many city militias that are commanded by commissaries, who act as colonels. They have under them several companies, the number of which is various and depends upon the extent of the

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