ircumstances require, without taking into account
fatigue or sacrifices in supporting the cause which you have
advocated since its commencement.

Be pleased to accept the expression of my high consideration.

(Signed) MARIANO DE EGANA.

It is almost unnecessary to state that my engagements with Brazil, and
the fact that when the invitation to resume the command of the Chilian
navy was received, I was blockading the Portuguese fleet in
Bahia--rendered it impossible to comply with the request. That a state
whose ministers had, by the greatest injustice, compelled me to quit
it--should, in so short a period, have thus earnestly entreated me to
return and free it from impending disaster, is not more a proof of the
peril in which the Government was placed, than of its thorough
satisfaction with my conduct as its admiral, and of its anxiety for my
renewed assistance.

In reply to the request, I addressed the following letter to the
minister:--

Most Excellent Sir,

I have just been honoured with your letter of
April 11th, announcing the elevation of Mareschal Don Ramon
Freire to the high dignity of Director of the State of Chili, by
acclamation of the people--a choice at which I cordially rejoice,
as it has placed in power a patriot and a friend. My sentiments
with respect to His Excellency have long been well known to the
late Supreme Director, as well as to his Ministers, and I would
to God that they had availed themselves of Gen. Freire's able and
disinterested services in the expedition to Peru--in which case the
affairs of South America would have now worn a different aspect;
but the Buenos Ayrean faction, being actuated by ambitious motives
and more sordid views, interfered, and rendered abortive those plans
which, under Gen. Freire's management, would have brought the
war to a speedy and successful termination.

On my quitting Chili, there was no looking to the past without
regret, nor to the future without despair, for I had learned by
experience what were the views and motives which guided the
councils of the State. Believe me, that nothing but a thorough
conviction that it was impracticable to render the good people
of Chili any further service under existing circumstances, or to
live in tranquillity under such a system, could have induced
me to remove myself from a country which I had vainly hoped
would have afforded m