y encouraging
discord and promoting anarchy--that greatest of all evils. Consult
the dignity to which your heroism has raised you, and if you must
take any step to secure your national liberty--judge for yourselves--act
with prudence--and be guided by reason and justice.

It is now four years since the sacred cause of your independence
called me to Chili. I assisted you to gain it. I have seen it
accomplished. It only remains to preserve it. I leave you for a
time, in order not to involve myself in matters foreign to my duties,
and for other reasons, concerning which I now remain silent, that I
may not encourage party spirit.

Chilenos. You know that independence is purchased at the
point of the bayonet. Know also, that liberty is founded on good
faith, and on the laws of honour, and that those who infringe upon
these, are your only enemies, amongst whom you will never find

COCHRANE.
Quintero, Jan. 4th, 1823.

On the same day I issued another address to the English and other
merchants at Valparaiso who at the outset had given me every confidence
and assistance, but--notwithstanding the protection imparted by the
squadron to their legitimate commerce, the minds of some had become
alienated because I would not permit illegitimate trading at which the
corrupt ministers not only connived, but for their own individual
profit, encouraged,--by granting licences to supply the enemy, even to
contraband of war. In the subjoined, allusion is made to this matter--

To the Merchants of Valparaiso.

Gentlemen,

I cannot quit this country without expressing to
you the heartfelt satisfaction which I experience on account of the
extension which has been given to your commerce, by laying open
to all the trade of these vast provinces, to which Spain formerly
asserted an exclusive right. The squadron which maintained the
monopoly has disappeared from the face of the ocean, and the flag
of Independent South America waves everywhere triumphant, protecting
that intercourse between nations which is the source of
riches, power, and happiness.

If, for the furtherance of this great object, some restraints were
imposed, they were no other than those sanctioned by the practice
of all civilized states: and though they may have affected the
immediate interests of a few who were desirous to avail themselves of
accidental circumstances prese