CONCEPTION, an episcopal town of Chili in South America. It is situated in W. Long. 73. 50. S. Lat. 36. 40; and is the oldest European settlement in Chili, and the second in point of dignity. On their first settlement here, the Spaniards were repeatedly driven off by the Indians, so that they were obliged to take up their residence at St Jago. Since that time both the cities of Conception and St Jago have been frequently destroyed by earthquakes. In the year 1751 both of them were laid in ruins by a dreadful shock, the first concussions of which were attended with an unusual swelling of the sea, that overturned the few houses which had escaped the ravages of the earthquake. The harbour is good, and pretty much frequented; on which account the city is regarded as a place of consequence. The king allowed annually 350,000 pieces of eight for the support of a garrison of 3500 men; a
corps that was seldom complete. None of the fortifications are considerable; but those towards the land are wretched. The Spaniards now live in tolerable security with respect to the Indians, and have no notion of any attack on that side. This town, with the rest of the province, fell into the hands of the Independents in 1817.