Diplomatic incidents occurred with Great Britain and the United States.  These arose owing to the seizure of British and American ships by the fleet of the new Republic.  These captures, as a matter of fact, were perfectly justified, since the vessels in question were laden with stores and war material destined for the Spanish forces.  Nevertheless, the authorities of Great Britain and the United States, although their sympathies from the very beginning of the struggle had lain so openly with the revolutionists, found it difficult to reconcile themselves to the capture of their vessels by a Power concerning the permanence of which they were not completely satisfied.  No sooner were these matters settled than there broke out serious manifestations of discontent on the part of the citizens of the young State.

The cause which actually brought matters to a head, and which was responsible for the revolution which drove O’Higgins from power, was of a reactionary nature.  With a considerable section of the Chilians neither O’Higgins nor the Republic was popular.  Both, in fact, at this period were considered an evil second only to the detested Spanish rule.  The majority of the ladies of the aristocratic classes worked strenuously against O’Higgins, and in the end revolutions burst out in Concepcion and in Coquimbo, and eventually rioting occurred in Santiago itself.

O’Higgins met the situation with a characteristic calm and intrepidity.  Visiting the barracks, his presence had the almost immediate effect of restoring to him the allegiance of the military.  After which, invited to attend a meeting of the dissatisfied party, he hastened to the spot.  Here a spokesman of the malcontents demanded in plain words that he should tender his resignation.  O’Higgins, in his reply, first of all made it perfectly clear that he was in no mood to be terrorized by force or superior numbers.  This latter advantage, indeed, he asserted that the gathering, however great its influence, could not claim as regards the sections it represented.  After discussion, however, seeing that his own motives were purely disinterested, he consented to yield to the wishes of the meeting.

A Junta of three of the organizers of this latter was appointed, and O’Higgins initiated these into their new office, receiving from them their oath of allegiance to the constitutions of the new Republic.  He then tore off his own insignia and declared himself a private citizen.  The scene which followed has been admirably translated by Mr. Scott-Elliot, and his words may well be reproduced here.  O’Higgins had turned to face the meeting, and addressed it in the following words: