in height, are there, standing erect as soldiers on parade, in the vast solitude, and one grand specimen is in flower, and for the time, in the company of Ledger and his party, may boast that it is not "Born to blush unseen," nor to "waste its sweetness on the desert air."

On this sketch are the words: "I have gone over nearly 3,500 leagues on mule back. Have passed three highest, 17,000 feet, and five lower ranges, 14,000 feet above sea level, of the Cordilleras; and travelled more than 400 leagues on foot. lost one flock that was taken from me in Bolivia, and I was twice taken prisoner.

I

The last I heard of Mr. Ledger was, I think, in the letter which follows, which, in fact, I received via Valparaiso, at Harmony Hill, Milnthorpe, after my first return home. Still I have an impression that two books, a kind of magazine, published in Australia, which he sent to me, and which contained lectures, given on this subject, in Melbourne or Sydney, were presented by me to one of the Literary Institutions of Kendal, but I am now unable to find them. The letter named is as follows:

MY DEAR SIR,-On the 17th I completed the shipment of 336 animals, without a single accident. I am certainly worn. out, but in excellent spirits, and as sanguine as ever,-in fact, more so, as the animals appear to take readily to the change. The Captain is obliging, and improves on acquaintance, and away from the owners my incomparable men are doing wonders. There are no annoyances for them; I cannot too highly praise them. I take twelve in all; Bradish goes with me in lieu of Savage, and is of very great use. I hope he will not further be his own enemy. I am sorry to say that with Waddington I am not contented, I had no alternative, yet your representation of Savage's share, has been taken care of with detriment to my own.

I can never

Now, then, my kind friend, adios! adios! forget your kind sympathy. I hope that before many months pass over I may again have the pleasure to avail myself of

your hospitality. My kindest regards to Mrs. Swinglehurst, to the youngsters, to Mr. Bardin, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Heywood, Mr. Budge, and all enquiring well wishers.

Every animal eats and drinks well. I sold twelve animals to Abbot, so as not to crowd the rest: he takes them to France. From this kind friend I have received many, many proofs of generosity that time cannot obliterate. Insurance has been effected for $80,000, not $100,000 as W. promised on leaving. Write me as opportunity offers, care of Messrs. Graham, Montefiore & Co., Sydney; send me some Chile papers. God bless you and yours; may every blessing attend you is the wish of your sincere friend. In great haste, C. Ledger.

"P.S.-We have been detained by strong northerly winds. We have now a southerly one and are going out; my last letter. Abbot goes in the " Lima"; you will see him and his animals at Valparaiso."

All the above to me (Henry Swinglehurst) now seems like a dream; thirty-five years are gone since receiving the above letter. Mr. Bardin, whom Ledger names, was the engineer in Captain Inglefield's expedition in search of Sir John Franklin; Mr. Lloyd was the engineer who was in charge of the Valparaiso and other very important railways; Mr. Budge was a Shetlander, who went out with Lord Dundonald as a middy, but left the service and lived in Chile until he was over eighty years of age. Mr. Budge took great interest in earthquakes, and he was in the British Navy, and on board the "Bellerophon" when Napoleon surrendered. Mr. Joseph Hegan and Mr. Waddington were, in their day, popular and wealthy merchants, having affairs all over the Pacific, and known by all who were in any way engaged in finance or the business of Peru and Chile.

WAR ON THE PACIFIC.

December 2nd, 1865.

SPAIN AND CHILE.

The conduct of Spain in San. Domingo, Peru, and Chile, recalls her ancient vices to the memory without bringing to her Queen any of the grandeur of her ancestors. The Isabella of the nineteenth century, whose exchequer is afflicted with the ague of poverty, seeks to strengthen her position, or enrich her kingdom, by wanton attacks upon a number of small but independent nations. The fifteenth century and the Spanish Monarchy became illustrious by the discoveries of Columbus, who found a new world and placed it at the feet of Ferdinand and Isabella. His success gave inspiration to adventurers ambitious to explore the new regions, and to signalise themselves by the acquisition of riches, and the glory of conquest. The West Indies, and the vast continent of America, with new races of men and new kingdoms, became subject to the Crown of Spain. Cortez destroyed the ancient monarchy of Mexico; and Pizarro was immortalised by his conquest of Peru and the murder of Atahualpa. Spain urged on the career of conquest and became rich-fabulously richin the spoils of new kingdoms. With each new acquisition her avarice increased; with every new conquest her powers became more despotic, and her sceptre finally extended over some five thousand miles of the American continent from Mexico to Chile. Her influence was supreme, and her language became the mother tongue of the nations she discovered and plundered.

The history of Spain, from the day she set her foot on the New World to the hour when she was driven from the shores of the Pacific, a period extending over more than three centuries, is the thrilling story of her glory and her shame.

Providence placed in her hands the welfare of millions of people, and she betrayed her trust. Enriching herself in the hour of conquest, with the gold and wealth which the people had laboured for centuries to produce, she lavished it on her priests and favourites, or wasted it in the fabulous grandeur of her court.

Ruling the New World during one-sixth of the Christian era, she left few marks of her policy except the degradation of the Christian religion and oppression of the people. She built churches by the forced labour of her people, and raised palaces for her viceroys and captains-general, with the gold she procured from the mines at the sacrifice of the lives of millions of her ill-used slaves. She signalised herself by no effort for the welfare of her people-her exactions impoverished them, her injustice bowed them down with care and misery, and she ruthlessly trampled on every germ of social, political, or commercial liberty, to which the people could aspire.

Three hundred years of oppression crushed out an earlier civilization, substituting slavery and misrule in its stead. But, forty years ago, after a fierce and brave struggle, in which the Chilians took a leading and noble part, the nations of South America, won their independence, and the Spanish Monarchy, whose crown was bedecked with the dazzling grandeur plundered from a primitive people, had to surrender every foot of the territory in her colonies, whilst listening to the jubilant cries of her revolted subjects, proclaiming their independence, and substituting for the old cry of "Viva la Espana!" the more healthy one of " Viva la Libertad!"

In the history of nations, as of man, a career of wrong and the neglect of duty ever closes with shame. Spain buried her talents in the earth, and the halo of glory with which Columbus encircled her brow has passed away and left her diadem soiled and dim, whilst her heroes and ancient colonies remem. ber only her ingratitude.

Four years ago, she was flushed with the success of her arms against the Moors, and dreams again of conquest; the machinations of a few hireling traitors in San Domingo fan the flames of her avarice, and her soldiers and ships go to take possession of the island. I visited the island in 1862,

and sailed thence in a Spanish steamer with many of her officers, for about ten days, calling at numerous ports in the island of Cuba, on our way to Havanna. These officers