ff, and Chili
declared an independent state. This was a good beginning, but troubles set
in almost directly. Three brothers, of the family of Carrera, set to work
to turn the popular movement to their own benefit, and by their intrigues
overthrew the National Congress, and established a new government with the
elder of them as its head. So much dissatisfaction was caused by the
corruption and misgovernment of the Carreras, that the Spaniards
endeavoured to reconquer Chili.

"When the danger was imminent a new actor came to the front. General
O'Higgins, a man of Irish descent, whose father had been a Spanish viceroy
of Peru, was put at the head of affairs in November, 1813, and the
Spaniards, who had won their way to the capital, were forced by his good
generalship to retire again. The intrigues of the Carreras, however, still
divided the forces of Chili, and the Spaniards again advanced from Peru.
O'Higgins, seeing the danger, effected a junction with the forces of the
Carreras, and offered to give them his support, and to resign his position
in their favour, if they would co-operate with him. The Carreras, however,
held aloof with their bands from the battle, and left O'Higgins and his
little body of 900 men to oppose 4000 Spanish troops. The natural result
was the defeat of the Chilians. On the 1st of October O'Higgins, with his
little party, were attacked at Rancagua by the Spaniards, and for
thirty-six hours resisted their continuous attacks. The Carreras' force
was but a short distance away, and both sides expected them to attack the
Spaniards in rear. They preferred, however, that their rival, as they
regarded him, should be destroyed, and held aloof.

"At last O'Higgins, with but 200 men--all that now survived of his
force--was driven into the great square of the town, and surrounded on all
sides. He still resisted, however, until half his force had fallen, and
then, although seriously wounded, he placed himself at the head of the
survivors, cut his way through the enemy, and effected his retreat. The
extraordinary valour displayed by the Chilians in this battle stirred our
English blood, and we felt that here was a people who had not, like the
rest of the South American races, become absolutely demoralized by
centuries of misgovernment by the Spaniards. At the time, however, their
cause seemed lost. The Carreras submitted without trying to strike another
blow, and O'Higgins, with the handful of survivors from Ra