Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09
A HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Communicated for the National Intsgencer from s Note
Book Of an Officer of the Nary.
HENRY PALMER; OR, aDos EsRIco EUsIHR.D


arrived in Boston having letters from abroad that
introduced him mercantile circle in Of East
ern cities, where at that time, there many of
prominent citizens who spoke Of any thing pre-Omi
nsntly good that was not English, and who for
and morals and all the higher attanments that distin
gush or embelish society pointed to the birthplace Of
their ancestors that which above all others claimed
their gratitude and inspired their admiration In speak
ing Of home they meant England and an Englishman
recommended to favor placed by them high on the
scale Of merit II rarely happened that the gentry Thus
commended to us did not justify the pretensons Of their
countrymen the world over in knowing little Of
every question that arose, whether relating business
society, politics, any thing else, than the natyeborn
that, with what thought good manners and some
doubt Of fair professions knowledge the Young
Engishman favored by the prediction Of our people
and seconded on his part by abrupt manner and bold
impertinence usually succeeded in taking precedence of
our own youth.
The truth will be denied that until recently (and
little Of the old eayen may be lefty there was with GER
tain class OF our countrymen provincialm in every
thing American and with this CLASS the Englishman
always stood preeminent. Hence it followed that our
hero did not want for friends and from counting house
he was in due time appointed supercargo Of ship bound
trading voyage the Spanish possessions on the
shores Of the Pacific The youth and inexperience
OF the supercargo did not escape the criticism of those
who ascrbed the appointment to important trust to
the false sentiment that then prevailed with many in re-
b.
With some prophetic doubts Of those who cared little
for the of the enterprise the good ship Cathe
rine but will not be sure of the nancy took her de-
parture from Providence commanded by most worthy
and Rindhearted man, who had for many years sailed
successfully in the same employ, and esteemed one
of the most able and intelligent shpmasters Of his time
Without material incident she safely doubled the stormy
cape in those days the dread Of mariners and bearing
the friendly breeze that seems forever waiting to
invite the empesttossed barque she rounds the cape
the Catherine dashed the playful waters from her sides
she doomed along the bright shores Of Araucana and
Valdyia until she safely anchored in the harbor of
Conception. Here in the temperate latitude Conception
not less favored in climate and production than any
other portion Of Chilli 1t is essentially an agricultural
and herds and many Of the choice productions Of the
mder attitudes are found in their highest perfection
Conception is distinguished for the development Of ply
steal and mental energy. The men are brave and the
the most attractive that betrayed the heart
OF faerng youth The laws of the Indies prevailed here
in oil the Spanish possessions in America and the
overt act Of anchorng csnfscaon by the law when
the authorities had the and found it expedent
to use It. Such, however, the despotism Of trade
with the colonies that Spain forever at war with her
children there in the eventuaes of commerce whenever
clandestine opportunity offered to carry little ire
guar business in that way. II there was military esta-
blishment kept up it contaminated by the general
sentiment and the ladies well the gentlemen were
too much Interested in consprng against the Crown for
the enjoyment OF certain buenos to disre-
gard the mandates OF distant authority.
With the laws Of the Indies to shut out all the civil
lized world from Spanish America, that country was
almost much sealed book to the rest Of mankind as
the Empire Of Japan, and stranger coming amongst an
isolated community of Castan blood created curiosity
and degree Of interest that could not fail to call forth
corresponding sympathy. Although the "Catherine"
there under prohibition that admitted of no COM
PROMISE yet In the absence Of motive to carry out the
restriction, plausible excuse was readily found
for the ntrudcrs and not only good but cordial under
standing was soon acknowledged by the parties Who in
defiance Of oil laws to the contrary consulted their own
AMI ntara Ne
Of their simplicity and antecedent to republican influences
and consequent revolution, amongst the most raw
and joyous of the New World 1t will not therefore
seem strange that whilst the young supercago negotiated
with the merchants for the sale Of the Catherines
cargo he should have found himself bndy kneeling at
the shrine Of Cupid victim to the smile Of the fair
" Rosara," the ruling goddess Of the place. and who
had filed her little world with conquests
Day after day passed and Mr.. Falkner Needed not
the impotence Of the captain who knew the danger of
delay, and most Of I'll from chance visit of n Cuarda
Costa, which would briefly terminate their voyage by
conscaon and imprisonment Finally the captain was
to proceed to "Quntera bayn lonely place
twenty miles to the north of Valparaiso Mr. Falk-
accompanied his newly made friends by land and the
Catherine was found at the place Of rendezvous when
they arrived boat seat for the supercargo who
declined to on board inviting the captain to repair TO
the shore that he himself might receive the treasure 10
be EXCHANGED for the cargo 1t is said that the captain
not without his dstrus Of Mr. Fakners integrity
and number Of letters and messages passed between
them before the captain landed and then not without the
precaution Of taking his largest boat fully manned and
armed. The fatal moment was fast approaching, and
Falkner, with numerous escor advanced to meet tho
boat She passed rapidly through the surf and oyory
strained to keep her from preaching to- yhen
rs the last wave WAS receding and before tho cap
tain and his men could seize their arms the sssassns
disguised merchants and led by Fakner cyerpowered
md slaughtered their haplcss victims In the meanwhile
sufficient number Of armed bad been sent ON board
Nhcre unsupeous Of treachery resistance was made
and the Catherine with her cargo became the booty Of
taknsr and his associate villains, Of whom the
father Of the captivating Rosarta" Mr. Pa kner was
ad 10 have received forty thousand dollars as his share
sf the plumber tits narrate the fact that
he returned 70 his native adopted country In
ase time he married 10 the "enamoratn" who IL
Was said ignorant Of his crimes He held large es-
aes in the province Of Conception where he assumed to
be doctor q medicine, and was known as 81 medico
Inglcs, Don Enrico Funier."
Many yssr bad passed. and with them tho laws Of the
ladies', la the emancipation Of gallant people who had
east aside the foreign despotism The plumber Of the
buque del commercio still remembered as an in
famous tranaaction In which Don Enrco Funer" had
participated but spoken OF as one Of those incidents oc
unrng unaer the odious Spanish laws which had been
swept away By the revelation
ln the beautiful city 81 Quliotas some leagues distant
~ shs interior from the Wild bay Of Qunera and whence
lhe cargo Of the Hlfxted Gathering was convened
" Enrieo funer" had erected mansion to which he
could escape from the winters Of Conception and enjoy
The rAfsst gifts Of nature Until after tho Revolution Of
Chill his ssesastcn Invaded w his countrymcn
~ those Of bis victims, and for the FIRST time was
psed BY the presence Of some invalid American officers
IL Is20
TIE ehs o. FREEDOM had expelled from the sunny land
~ Coli the pfFxad1g that blended crime and
city With every public and private virtue and Don En-
lieoss erimss. somewhat obscured by the shadow Of
ime unveisd hy the revelation and his