246 A HISTORY OF CHILE their offensive operations along the Chilean coast, ex- cept the capture of eight or ten merchant prizes. So soon as the treaty between Chile and Peru had been signed the fleets of the two republics united near the island of Chilo6, where they sought a place of safety, not being able to cope with their powerful adversaries. Near the north end of the island in the harbor of San Carlos, an engagement took place, February 7th, between six of the small vessels of the allied squadron, assisted by the shore batteries, and two vessels of the Spanish fleet, the "Villa de Madrid" and "Blanca."' After two hours of long-range cannonading, the latter vessels withdrew to Valparaiso. No great damage was sustained by either side. Considerable diplomatic effort was made in March to bring about peace, the American minister, Kilpat- rick,and Commodore Rodgersof the United States navj', usingtheir best efforts toward that end. Chile demanded an unconditional abandonment of the war ; Admiral Nu- nez insisted upon certain requirements, to the effect that Chile should disclaim any intention to insult Spain, that she should give up the "Covadonga" in exchange for the twelve prizes captured by the Spaniards, and that there should be reciprocal salutes. Chile refused, and Nunez proceeded to carry out a threat he had pre- viously made to bombard Valparaiso, in case the Chi- leans did not accede to his terms. Valparaiso was defenseless and the foreign residents and ministers protested earnestly against the barbar- ous measure, but Nunez carried his threat into execu- tion, perhaps by direction of his government. On the 31st of March, 1866, he bombarded the city for three and one-half hours, sparing nothing within range of his guns. Over ten millions of dollars worth of pro- perty was destro5'ed, nine millions of which belonged
