He waives all examination of the estimate formed in Mr. Duer’s letter, of the amount to be allowed as claimed by the Florida; he takes leave to observe that Mr. Duer takes it for granted that the Florida was in the service of the government not only during the time she was sailing under the orders of the authorities of Chili, but also the period she was in the power of the insurrectionists; and that the personal losses of the captain, sailors, and passengers are included in the claim; whereas they should be considered as resulting from the acts of the rebels, which the government is not responsible for. With an excuse for his delay in answering Mr. Duer’s letter, founded upon his absence from the capital for a few days, and other urgent occupations, he signs himself, “Your obedient servant, Antonio Varas.” On receiving this letter, Mr. Duer joined me in entering a protest at the consulate, against the injuries and damages I had received at the hands of the Chilian government, and the affair was put in the hands of our government authorities, where it now remains. CHAPTER X. Cambiaso’s trial--His execution--His character--Garcia--My interview with him--The officer saved by Garcia--His wife’s gratitude--Mr. Duer’s kindness--Mr. Dunn--Captain Avalos--Conclusion. During the time that I had been occupied in endeavoring to obtain a recognition of my claims from the Chilian government, the trial of Cambiaso, Garcia, and the other ringleaders among the rebels, had been going on at Valparaiso. Cambiaso’s trial was not public, and I was not called in during its course; consequently I could know but little of it. I attended the execution myself, painful as the sight was to me, from a strange desire which I had to see the last of men who had caused me so much suffering, and from a wish to know how they would meet their fate. Cambiaso was led out heavily ironed, and therefore little could be judged of the state of his feelings from his bearing or appearance; but he certainly showed no positive cowardice. I have sometimes thought, in reflecting on the intercourse I had with him, and the traits of character he manifested, that he had naturally fine abilities, which, under a different training and different circumstances, might have led him through a brilliant course. He had, however, a fatal vanity, which was constantly a stronger temptation to him than his principles of right were able to withstand. Much of his cruelty seemed to me to arise from a sort of bravado, and a desire to impress his followers with a great idea of his power and his courage. I came to this conclusion from noticing that his words were always more cruel than his actions, and yet that his threats did not seem to be uttered under the influence of passion; on the contrary, they were delivered in a grandiloquent manner which sometimes would have made me feel inclined to laugh, if the subjects had not generally been too serious for a joke.