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 and some less cowardly hand to be found to put to death a man like myself? This has nothing of justice in it,—it is base revenge.” But the merciless Spaniards were deaf to his appeal. Various successes and discomfitures ensued, when, about the termination of the sixteenth century, the Araucanians besieged the enemy in the fortress of Puren. Unable to reduce the place so speedily as he desired, their chief presented himself before it, mounted on a fine horse recently taken from the governor, and challenged the Commander, Don Garcia Ramon, to single combat at the end of three days. The defiance being accepted, the Chieftains met, each accompanied by a small body of men who stood at a distance. Putting spurs to their horses, they advanced impetuously, but at the first encounter the Araucanian Toqui was pierced through the body by his adversary’s lance. Refusing to acknowledge himself vanquished, he endeavoured to remount his horse, but in doing so expired. These events were followed by the siege of Villarica, a rich and populous city belonging to the Spaniards, which, after a resistance of two years and eleven months, fell into the hands of the Araucanians. A similar fate awaited Imperial and Osorno, other cities of equal importance, and their inhabitants were led into captivity. Incessant wars, with very short intervals of repose, occupied almost the whole of the seventeenth century, and thousands after thousands fell in their prosecution. But the Araucanians received an important accession to their strength, in the union of a warlike tribe called Puelches, which was thenceforth incorporated under the same government. The eighteenth century did not open more auspiciously; for although a cessation of hostilities had prevailed some time, the Araucanians became sensible that it afforded opportunities for the Spaniards to form new and permanent establishments within their territories: the arrogance of those who resided among them, under pretence of protecting the missionaries, had also excited their indignation. Villumilla, a man of low origin but distinguished abilities, was appointed military Toqui, or commander in chief, and formed a plan for expelling the Spaniards from the whole coast. But his attempt to raise his own and the neighbouring countries, in the year 1723, proved abortive, and the war was marked by nothing except some inconsiderable skirmishes. Peace having been restored, the Spanish governor conceived a scheme for the civilization of the Araucanians (regarded as chimerical by those best acquainted with their disposition), which was persuading them to live in cities. They agreed, however, to build a city, and were supplied with materials by the Spaniards, who also had assistants and superintendents on the spot, but suddenly seizing their arms, they killed their overseers, about the year 1753. Peace was once more interrupted by repeated encounters, and at length a bloody battle ensued in the year 1773. The Spaniards found themselves unable to retain any settlements within the Araucanians’ territories, and the natives, in opposition to all the skill and force employed against them, have ever since been able to keep possession of their country. See the excellent work of Molina, on the Natural and Civil History of Chili, and Alcedo’s Geographical and Historical Dictionary, Art. Chili.

ARCON, a French engineer and military writer of eminence, and memorable as the inventor of the Floating Batteries employed against Gibraltar, was born at Pontarlier in the year 1733. He was originally destined for the church; but, instead of employing himself in the studies suited to that profession, he became wholly engrossed with plans of fortifications, and was at length admitted, with the consent of his parents, into the Corps of Engineers. He distinguished himself at several sieges during the seven years’ war; and had acquired so much reputation by his professional services and by his writings, that he was specially employed to assist in the last grand effort made by France and Spain for the reduction of Gibraltar, in 1782. It was about this period that he projected the famous floating batteries; an invention which inspired the combined armies with the greatest hopes of success, and which at first occasioned no small degree of alarm in the British garrison. “The battering ships,” says Drinkwater, in his interesting account of, this memorable siege, “were found to be no less formidable than they had been represented. Our heaviest shells often rebounded from their tops, whilst the 32 pound shot seemed incapable of making any visible impression upon their hulls. Frequently we flattered ourselves they were on fire; but no sooner did the smoke appear, than, with the most persevering intrepidity, men were observed applying water, from their engines within, to those places whence the smoke issued.” Of the ultimate fate of these expensive and formidable engines of attack, all British readers must be sufficiently informed. Not one of the whole ten escaped destruction from the bombs and red-hot balls poured upon them from the garrison. M. D’Arcon, however, published a memoir to show, that his batteries were wilfully exposed to destruction through the envy and jealousy which the contrivance had excited among the Spaniards; and this statement seems to have obtained the general concurrence of his countrymen. But projectors do not readily admit any inadequacy in their schemes; nor will a vain-glorious people, who have been foiled in war, ever ascribe their disgrace to the superior skill or constancy of their enemy.

M. D’Arcon appears in the capacity of a General in the first years of the Revolution; and, in particular, was employed in the invasion of Holland, where, in 1793, he besieged and took several fortified places. He soon afterwards withdrew, or was driven from public life; and remained in retirement till 1799, when he was made a member of the Conservative Senate by Bonaparte. He died the following year, aged sixty-seven. He was a member of the Institute, and author of the following works:—1. Reflexions d’un Ingenieur, en reponse à un Tactitien, 1773, in 12mo. 2. Correspondance sur l’Art de la Guerre, entre un Colonel de Dragons et un Capitaine d’Infantrie, 1774, in 8vo. 3. Defense d’un Systême de Guerre Naturale, &c. 1779, in 8vo. 4. Mémoires pour servir à l’Histoire du Siege de Gibraltar, 1783, in 8vo. 5. Considerations sur l’Influence du Genie de Vauban dans la Balance des Forces de l’Etat, 1786, in 8vo. 6. Examen detaillé de l’Importante Question de l’Utilité des Rh