Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1829. GOVERNMENT DEFENCE. 273 by the people, at the rate of one deputy for 7,500 souls ; but whatever the number may be, short of 90,000, twelve deputies are to be elected. The duration of the assembly is biennial, and its business is to superintend the civil regulations of the pro- vince. Under the Yntendente each province has a local governor, whose principal duties are to maintain order, preside in 'the municipal meetings, see their regulations carried into execution, and obey the orders of the Yntendente of the province. Whilst we were at Childe, the duties of Yntendente, and military com- mandant, were performed by one person. Brigadier-general Don Jose Santiago Aldunate ; but, upon his resignation, the offices were separated : the military commandant retaining the charge of the treasury. The duties of the military chief, are to dispose of the troops under his command, as he sees occasion, so as to ensure the quietness, and subordination of the province, for which he is responsible ; and to render tlie Yntendente such assistance as he may require ; but, for all ordinary purposes, the Militia, who are under the immediate control of the Ynten- dente, are employed. For the administration of the law there is a Judge (Juez de letras), who tries all civil as well criminal actions. The province sends two deputies to the Chilian con- gress, one from San Carlos, and the other from Castro. At the beginning of the year 1829, the Militia amounted to more than seven thousand men, and the regular troops to three hundred and thirty, which was quite sufficient for the province. The port of San Carlos is capable of being well defended, and, during the time of the Spaniards, was in a good state of defence. The entrance was protected by a battery on the high- land of the Corona, and by the castle of Aguy, which effectually commands it. Farther in, on the same side of the port, was the small, but well-placed, two-gun battery of Barcacura ; close under which is the anchorage. On the town side there are several batteries ; but, towards the Pudeto it is weak, although capable of being made very strong. Fort San Carlos, which, for some years past, has been used as a cemetery, was well- selected as to position, and constructed in a manner very VOL. I. ,^,