Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

476 coNCEPciON — BE-EuiLDiNG. July Until the 10th, it was necessary to remain at anchor, as there were accounts to settle between the convmodore, the consul, the pursers, the officers, and the owner of the schooner there were visits to the Authorities, to thank them for their assistance, and, as usual on board men-of-war, there was much to do in very little time. To Don Jose Alemparte, the ynten- dente of the province ; to Colonel Boza, the principal military authority ; to D. Miguel Bayon, the governor of Talcahuano and to Don Pablo Delano, captain of the port, sincere thanks were really due for their earnest exertions. Mr. Rouse took his leave of us on the 10th, and we then sailed. While the Blonde was lying off Talcahuano, I had a few opportunities of looking about, and seeing that both Concep- cion and Talcahuano were rising out of their ruins, and that their unfortunate inhabitants had, at least, roofs over their heads. Concepcion was, and is still nominally, a city : but it wall be long before it again appears as such to the eye of a stranger. Some idea may be formed of the low scale to which every thing was there reduced, when I mention that it was very difficult to find a carriage of any kind in which the Com- modore could go to visit the Yntendente. Great discussions had arisen on the subject of rebuilding the city. The government party wished to remove the site to a better position ; but there was so strong an opposition, that the result was likely to be the gradual rebuilding of the town in the same place, while the removal was still undecided, and under consideration. Two situations were named as much more eligible than the former: one on the banks of the little river Andalien, about a mile from the old city ; and the other, on a rising ground about two miles on the Talcahuano side of Concep- cion. This latter position has many and great advantages, as all acknowledged ; but people were reluctant to move ; each one had or fancied an advantage in the old situation of his house, encumbered as it was with ruins. Besides, many more serious difficulties would arise in leaving small freeholds, and obtaining equivalents in another place : however, an active government might have accomplished so desirable a change without injuring