Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 3.djvu/440

Rh fandy beach ; near the upper margin of which, and on the fides of the adjacent hills was feen the town of Valparaifo; and akhough from its fituation it could not boaft of much pleafantnefs, yet in this point of view it appeared to be neat, of confiderablc extent, and built with regularity ; the churches rofe above the other buildings, and the whole being defended by feveral forts, all confpiredat once to announce, that we were again approaching towards the civilized world.

In the bay and near to the fliore rode feveral fail of merchant (hips, engaged in their refpeftive occupations ; to and from which boats were pafTing and re-paffing to the (bore, where a very lively fcene was exhibited of men and cattle; the whole exhibiting that fort of commercial intercourfe between diftant countries, that the arts and civilization can alone carry into effeft. This pleafing profpecl of at length drawing towards our native country, after fo long an abfence amongil the rude, yet hofpitable, nations of the earth, was however not unmixed with forebodings of a painful nature, left the intelligence refpefting the diftrafted ftate of Europe, which we had but too much reafon to apprehend would meet us on vifiting thefe (hores, fhould be of a more melancholy complexion than we had anticipated.

The wind from the fouthward blowing dire6lly oat of the bay, obliged us to make fome trips for the purpofe of reaching a proper fituation for anchoring, which was accompliftied about three o'clock in lo fathoms water, muddy bottom.

An officer was immediately difpatched to inform the governor of our arrival, of the occafion of our vifit, and of the affiflance we required. A fliip that had been feen in the offing in the morning anchored foon after us, and, together with the Difcovery and Chatham, made ten fail of veflTels riding in the bay ; of thefe five fhips and two brigs were Spanilh merchantmen, and the other the Lightning of Briftol, a South fea whaler, commanded by a Mr. Cook ; from whom we received little encouragement to hope for fuch a reception at Vaplaraifo, as we confidered we had a right to expeft, or as our fituation demanded. Soon after we had anchored, however, and during the abfence of Mr. Manby, who was the officer fent to the governor, a Spanifti officer came on board with congratula- 3 F 2 tions Martli.