Lima evacuated by La Serna....Occupation of by the Liberating
Army....Loss of the San Martin....Arrival of Lord Cochrane at
Lima....Conduct of the Spaniards after leaving Lima....Independence
of Peru sworn....San Martin constitutes himself Protector of
Peru....Interview between Lord Cochrane and San
Martin....Announcement of the views of the Spanish Army....State of
the Squadron....San Martin takes the field....Arrival and Departure
of Cantarac....Proclamation of San Martin....Treasure taken at
Ancon by Lord Cochrane....Surrender of Callao....Tribunal of
Purification established at Lima....Lieutenant Wynter arrested at
Callao....Paroissien and Spry visit the Squadron at
Midnight....Squadron leaves Callao, arrives at Guayaquil.
On the arrival of Lord Cochrane in the bay of Callao, on the eighth of
July, General San Martin came on board the flag ship, from the schooner
Sacramento, bringing with him the welcome news of the fall of Lima, or
rather of its evacuation by the Spanish troops.
On the sixth of July, 1821, the Viceroy La Serna informed the Marquis of
Monte-mira that it being convenient, he should retire with the troops
under his command from the capital of Peru, leaving only a few companies
of the regiment of La Concordia, militias, to preserve order and
tranquillity, under the command of his excellency the political and
military governor.
On the same day La Serna informed San Martin of his determination; as
also that he had deposited in the castles at Callao such warlike stores
as he had thought requisite for his ulterior operations, leaving the
rest in Lima as he found them. La Serna solicited that such sick as he
had been obliged to leave in the hospitals might be kindly treated; he
requested, too, that none of the inhabitants might suffer any
persecution for their past political opinions and conduct, assuring
General San Martin that his conduct should be subject to every rule of
reciprocity.
A detachment of horse entered Lima on the evening of the seventh, but
without any orders from General San Martin, and on the eighth the
liberating army took possession of the city, but the general in chief
judged it most prudent to remain on board his schooner in the bay of
Callao, till the night of the ninth, when he made his private entry into
Lima.
On the fourteenth an announcement appeared in the ministerial gazette of
Lima, that, on account of the great scarcity of wheat in the city,
General San Martin had directed that two thousand fanegas, then on board
the flag ship of the Chilean squadron, should be landed at the
Chorrillos free of duty; and for this purpose, the San Martin was
ordered to the said port, which she entered on the sixteenth: she was,
however, unfortunately run aground by Captain Wilkinson, and, although
every endeavour was made to save her, she was completely lost, owing to
the uncommon swell of the sea at the time.
On the fourteenth a note was addressed by General San Martin to the
cabildo of Lima, requesting the convocation of a general meeting, that
the opinion of the inhabitants might be made public, with regard to
their determination on the independence of the country. This request was
immediately complied with; and on the fifteenth the members of the
corporation, his excellency the archbishop, the prelates of the
conventual orders, the titles of Castile, and many other individuals,
met at the city hall, and the following act was signed by the whole of
them:
"The general will is decided on the independence of Peru with respect to
the Spanish or any other foreign domination; and to this effect let the
form of the necessary oath be drawn up and administered."
On the seventeenth Lord Cochrane entered Lima amid the loudest
acclamations of the inhabitants. The Marquis of Monte-mira had sent his
carriage for Lord Cochrane to Chorrillos; but a deputation from the
cabildo and others from different corporations having met his lordship
on the road, he alighted from the carriage, and mounted a horse, brought
for the occasion.
The inhabitants of Lima being desirous of seeing the naval hero of the
expedition, a levee was held on the same evening at the palace, where
the Admiral received the compliments of the principal personages of the
city; but General San Martin judging it more decorous to be absent when
a "subaltern" received the thanks of the cabildo of Lima, and the
compliments of its inhabitants, remained at la Legua, half-way between
Lima and Callao, where he had established his head quarters. On the
eighteenth in the morning the archbishop visited his lordship, which
visit was immediately returned; when Lord Cochrane left the city to wait
upon the general in chief at his head quarters.
On the seventeenth an order was published for the abolition of the
Spanish royal arms in any part of the city where they had been placed;
and this proclamation was accompanied by another, as follows:
"Having been informed, with great horror to my delicate sentiments, and
in violation of my humane principles, that some passionate individuals
vex and insult the Spaniards with threats and taunts, I order and
command, that all persons who shall commit such kind of excesses, in
opposition to American gentleness of manners, to decorum, and to good
and rational education, be denounced to the political and military
governor of the city, that, the fact being proved, he may be punished
for such reproachful conduct."
On the eighteenth a civic guard was ordered to be formed, to supersede
the Spanish regiment de la Concordia, and the gran mariscal Marquis of
Torre Tagle was appointed colonel of it.
On the twenty-second of July a proclamation was issued, ordering that
the public act of the declaration of the independence of Peru should
take place on the twenty-eighth of the same month, with all the
solemnity due to so memorable a transaction.
After the Spanish troops left Lima on the sixth, their march into the
interior was marked with the most horrid outrages: from Lurin to Bujama,
a distance of nine leagues, thirty-four dead bodies were left on the
road; some had died of disease, others had been shot; and, according to
the uniform statements of the deserters from the Spaniards, Colonel
Rodil was the executioner of the greater part of these victims. On the
thirteenth, thirty-nine sick and five dead men were found near to
Bujama, and carried to a temporary hospital. From the village of Huaycan
advices were received on the twenty-first that La Serna had issued an
order imposing capital punishment on every individual belonging to, or
under the protection of the Spanish army, who should leave the route
assigned a distance of twenty yards; notwithstanding which, upwards of
three hundred deserted at Huaycan, and at Lunaguaná upwards of six
hundred. In a skirmish near the latter place the Spaniards lost twenty
killed, and more than fifty prisoners, and La Serna was completely
surrounded in the ravine of Pilas. The efforts of the Guerilla parties
in harassing the Spanish troops were constant and successful; and had a
division of the liberating army been sent to co-operate with the
Guerillas, it is most probable that the entire Spanish army would have
been annihilated; but the whole of the army was disposed of in the
barracks of Lima, or at Bellavista, where they were stationed to watch
the operations of about eight hundred men, under General La Mar, in the
batteries of Callao. A small division under General Arenales stationed
in the province of Yauyos was ordered to Lima, and the whole of the
interior was abandoned to the protection of the Guerilla parties, who
had to act against the organized Spanish army, so that the towns which
had declared their adherence to the cause of independence, when they
believed themselves under the protection of the liberating forces, were
abandoned, to experience all the rigours of their constituted enemies,
the Spaniards, and thus pave the way to the state of affairs which
subsequently took place in Peru.
[Illustration: INDIAN MULETEER OF MEXICO. INDIAN OF SAN PEDRO, western
shore of Mexico.
_Engraved for Stevenson's Narrative of South America._]
Lord Cochrane having retired from Lima, on board the O'Higgins, in the
bay of Callao, received on the twentieth the following invitation from
the cabildo of Lima:
"Lima, the capital of Peru, is about to solemnize the most august act
which has been performed for three centuries, or since her foundation;
this is, the proclamation of her independence, and her absolute
exclusion from the Spanish government, as well as that of any other
foreign potentate; and this cabildo, wishing the ceremony to be
conducted with all possible decorum and solemnity, considers it
necessary that your Excellency, who has so gloriously co-operated in the
consecution of this highly desired object, will deign to assist at the
act, with your illustrious officers, on Saturday the twenty-eighth
inst."
On the twenty-eighth the procession, composed of General San Martin,
Lieut.-General Marquis of Monte-mira, the staff officers of the army,
the university and four colleges, the prelates of the religious orders,
the military chiefs, the judges, many of the nobility, and the members
of the cabildo, left the palace, mounted on richly caparisoned horses,
and were followed by the body guard of the ex-viceroy, the escort of the
general in chief, and the battalion No. 8, with the flags of Chile and
Buenos Ayres, and proceeded to a stage erected in the plasa mayor.
General San Martin ascended the stage, and displayed the national flag
of Peru, pronouncing at the same time--"Peru is from this moment free
and independent, by the general vote of the people, and by the justice
of her cause, which God defend!"
The cavalcade then paraded the principal streets of the city, and
returned to the palace where Lord Cochrane was waiting in the balcony,
whence medals commemorative of the act were distributed; but even these
evinced the ambition of the general, who, from the very outset of the
expedition, had endeavoured to monopolize every species of credit: for
this purpose, the inscription chosen for the medals was, "Lima secured
its independence on the twenty-eighth of July, 1821, under the
protection of the liberating army, commanded by San Martin."
On the following Sunday a solemn Te Deum was chanted at the cathedral,
and high mass was celebrated by the archbishop; after which the
individuals who on the twenty-eighth had formed the procession advanced
separately to the high altar, and took the oath, on the sacred gospels,
to "defend with their opinions, property and persons, the independence
of Peru, against the Spanish government, and any other foreign power."
On the twenty-ninth Colonel Miller, having been obliged to abandon the
province of Arica on the twenty-second, landed at Pisco, having
increased his division to nine hundred and sixty men.
On the thirtieth Lord Cochrane reported to General San Martin, that on
the twenty-fifth he had ordered Captain Crosbie to enter the anchorage
at Callao, and to cut out as many of the enemy's vessels as he could
conveniently bring to anchor outside the range of the batteries, which
he did in the most gallant manner, bringing out the San Fernando and
Milagro, the two largest merchantmen, and the Resolucion, armed as a
sloop of war; besides several launches and boats, burning at the same
time two hulks within musket shot of the enemy's batteries.
After the ceremony on the Sunday at the cathedral was concluded, a
deputation from the cabildo waited on General San Martin, with the
request, that he would take upon himself the political and military
superintendence of Peru, which in the name and on the behalf of the
capital they had the honor to offer to him. To this communication, with
such a smile as few but San Martin can express, he informed them, that
the offer was quite unnecessary, for that as he had _taken_ the command
he should keep it so long as he thought proper, and that he should
moreover allow no juntas, nor assemblies for the discussion of public
matters during his pleasure. This was an answer not very congenial to
the feelings of men who had just been called on to swear, in the
presence of the Almighty, to their _liberty_ and _independence_!
On the fourth of August fresh advices of the atrocities committed by
the Spaniards on their march into the interior were published at Lima;
one piece of intelligence was, that at the town of Tauripampa a hospital
had been formed of the church, and that at the time that La Serna left
the town the doors of the church were closed, and the whole set fire to,
when the miserable soldiers who could not accompany the Spanish army
were burnt to death, as well as great numbers of the inhabitants of the
town in their houses, Rodil at the same time declaring, that it was more
honorable for them to die than to serve in the ranks of the rebels.
On the third of August the following proclamation was issued at Lima:
"Don Jose San Martin, &c.--When I took charge of the important
enterprize of the liberty of Peru, I had no other motive than a desire
of forwarding the sacred cause of liberty in America, and of promoting
the felicity of the people of Peru. A considerable part of this is
already realized; but this work would remain incomplete, and my feelings
little satisfied, if I did not establish for ever the future security
and prosperity of the inhabitants of this region.
"After my arrival at Pisco I announced, that owing to the imperiousness
of the circumstances, I was invested with the supreme authority, and
that I was responsible to the patria for the exercise of it. These
circumstances yet exist, because Peru has yet to combat with her
enemies, and consequently it is necessary that the supreme command
should continue in my hands.
"I hope, that because I thus act, you will do me the justice to believe
that I am not induced by any ambitious views, but by public convenience
alone. It is abundantly notorious, that I only aspire to retirement and
tranquillity, after a life so greatly agitated as mine has been; but I
hold a moral responsibility which requires the sacrifice of my most
sanguine desires. The experience of twelve years of revolution in
Venezuela, Cundinamarca, Chile, and the united provinces of Rio de la
Plata have given me a knowledge of the evils attending the untimely
convocation of congresses, while the enemy yet exists in the country;
independence must first be secured; we must afterwards think of the
solid establishment of liberty. The religious scrupulosity with which I
have always in my public life fulfilled my promises gives me the right
to be believed; and I compromise myself most solemnly with the people of
Peru, that at that moment in which the territory is free, I will resign
the command, to make room for such a government as they may think fit
to elect. The frankness with which I speak ought to serve as a guarantee
for the sincerity of my intention. I might have ordained that electors
named by the citizens of the free departments should nominate the person
who was to govern until the reunion of the representatives of the
Peruvian nation. The simultaneous invitation of a great number of
persons of elevated character and decided influence in this capital who
have requested that I should preside at the administration of the state,
ensures to me the popular appointment; besides, as I had obtained the
assent of the people under the protection of the liberating army, I have
judged it more decorous and convenient to follow this loyal and frank
conduct, which must tranquillize all those who are jealous of their
liberties.
"When I have the satisfaction to deliver up the command, and to give an
account of my operations to the representatives of the people, I am
confident that they will not find in the epoch of my administration any
of those strokes of venality, despotism, or corruption, which have
characterized the agents of the Spanish government in America. To
administer strict justice to all, rewarding virtue and patriotism, and
punishing vice and sedition wherever it may be found, is the model by
which I shall regulate my actions, so long as I am placed at the head of
this nation."
After this most fascinating description of what a chief magistrate ought
to be, but in which the duties of a general are not even hinted at, San
Martin declares himself the Protector of Peru, and Don Juan Garcia del
Rio, Don Bernardo Monteagudo, and Dr. Don Hipolito Unanue, his three
ministers of state. It is almost unnecessary to say how ill this
self-constituted authority agrees with the promises made by the Supreme
Director of Chile in his proclamation to the Peruvians; and in that of
General San Martin issued after his arrival in Peru. I merely hint at
these things, that my readers may not be surprized when they find that
his promises were just as binding in one case as in the other.
On the following morning, the fourth of August, Lord Cochrane,
uninformed of the change which had taken place in the title of San
Martin, visited the palace, and began to beg of the general in chief to
propose some means for the payment of the foreign seamen, who had served
their times, and fulfilled their contract. To this San Martin answered,
"that he would never pay the Chilean squadron unless it were sold to
Peru, and then the payment should be considered as a part of the
purchase money." To this Lord Cochrane replied, that by such a
transaction the squadron of Chile would be transferred to Peru by merely
paying what was due to the officers and crews for services done to Peru.
San Martin knit his brows, and turning to his two ministers, Garcia and
Monteagudo, who were in the room, ordered them to retire; to which his
lordship objected, stating that as he was not master of the Spanish
language, he wished them to remain as his interpreters, fearful that
some expression, not rightly understood, might be considered offensive.
San Martin now turned round to the Admiral, and said, "are you aware, my
lord, that I am Protector of Peru?" "No," said his lordship. "I ordered
my secretaries to inform you of it," returned San Martin. "That is now
unnecessary," said his lordship, "for you have personally informed me:
but I sincerely hope that the friendship which has existed between
General San Martin and myself will still continue to exist between the
Protector of Peru and myself." San Martin then, rubbing his hands, said,
"I have only to say, that I am Protector of Peru!"
The manner in which this last sentence was expressed roused the admiral,
who advancing, said, "then it now becomes me, as the senior officer of
Chile, and consequently the representative of the nation, to request the
fulfilment of all the promises made to Chile, and the squadron, but
first, and principally, the squadron." San Martin returned--"Chile!
Chile! I will never pay a single real to Chile! and as to the squadron,
you may take it where you please, and go when you choose: a couple of
schooners are quite enough for me: _Chile! Chile! yo nunca pagare un
real a Chile! y en quanto a la esquadra, puede V. llevarla donde quiere,
e irse quando guste, con un par de goletas me basta a mi_;" and snapped
his fingers in the face of the Admiral. On hearing this, Garcia left the
room, while Monteagudo walked to the balcony. San Martin paced the room
for a short time, and, turning to his lordship, caught his hand, and
said, "forget, my lord, what is past!" The admiral, dashing away the
tear with which surprize and indignation had suffused his eye, replied,
"I will, when I can," and immediately left the palace. His lordship was
now undeceived by the man himself: the repeated reports he had heard of
his past conduct crowded on his distracted imagination, and knowing what
might be attempted, from what had already been done, his lordship agreed
with me, that his life was not safe ashore; he therefore immediately
took horse, rode to Boca Negra, and went on board his frigate.
This conversation has been denied by some of San Martin's partizans; but
were it necessary more fully to substantiate the fact, the subsequent
official correspondence between the protector of Peru and the admiral of
the Chilean squadron would fully prove the truth of what I have stated.
San Martin, reflecting that the batteries of Callao were yet in the
hands of the enemy, and that should the Chilean naval force raise the
blockade, he did not possess the means of driving them out, nor of
forcing them to surrender, exerted himself in conciliatory measures,
heaping promise upon promise, both as to the payment of the arrears of
the crews and premiums and rewards. He endeavoured to soften down his
expressions of the fourth, stating that he only said, or meant to say,
that "it might be interesting to Chile to sell some of her vessels of
war to Peru, because this latter wanted them for the protection of her
coasts." But even this subterfuge was exposed by his saying further,
that "the government of Chile would at all times devote their squadron
to the furtherance of the cause of Peru."
San Martin, on finding that official correspondence did not produce the
desired effect of bringing Lord Cochrane to agree with him that the
squadron was under his controul, even after he had assumed the supreme
authority in Peru, and constituted himself an independent chief, at the
head of a separate government, whose views were seemingly opposed to the
interests of Chile, now addressed the following private letter to his
lordship, which on account of its uncommon expressions I give in
Spanish:
"Lima, Agosto 13 de 1821.--Mi Lord,--De oficio contesto a V. sobre el
desagradable negocio de los buques de la esquadra, que a V. y a mi nos
causa disgustos impresindibles, porque no es posible hacer quanto se
desea. Nada tengo que añadir si no es la protesta que no he mirado, ni
miraré jamas con la menor indiferencia quanto tenga relacion a V. yo le
dije en Valparaiso que su suerte seria igual a la mia, y ereo haber dado
pruebas de que mis sentimentos no han variado, ni pueden variar, por lo
mismo que cada dia es mayor la trascendencia de mis acciones. No, mi
lord, yo no veo con indiferencia los asuntos, de V. y sentiria no poder
esperar que acabe de convencerse de esto mismo. Si a pesar de todo V.
deliberase tomar el partido que me intimó en la conferencia que tubimos
ahora dias, esto sería para mi en conflicto a que no podria substraerme.
Mas yo espero que entrando V. en mis sentimientos, consumirá la obra que
ha empesado, y de la que depende nuestro comun destino. Adios, mi lord!
se repite de V. con el mas sincero aprecio su eterno amigo. (Signed)
José de San Martin."
Omitting the preamble of this letter, let us analyze the expressions
from "Si a pesar: if in despite of every thing, you are resolved to
observe the conduct which you intimated to me, in the conference which
we had a few days ago, this would be to me a conflict from which I could
not extricate myself. But I hope that, agreeing with my sentiments, you
will consummate the work that you have begun, and on which depends our
common destiny." The conference here mentioned, alluded to the delivery
of the Chilean vessels of war to the Protector of Peru, on the condition
of his paying to the officers and crews their arrears, and rewarding
them according to his solemn promise made at Valparaiso, before the
expedition left that port; and the agreement of sentiment cannot signify
any thing more, than that Lord Cochrane should deliver up the squadron
to San Martin, which would have been a most honourable "consummation of
the work" to his lordship, and a most melancholy one to Chile; but
_she_ was to have been forgotten in the common destiny.
On the fourth of August Don Jose de la Riva Aguero was nominated
President of the Department of Lima, with the authority of the
ex-Intendente. On the same day the high chamber of justice, _alta
camarca de justicia_ was established in Lima, with the powers and
attributions of the ex-Audiencia. On the same day San Martin issued a
proclamation, not of the most flattering nature, to Spaniards resident
in Lima and the independent provinces of Peru, but which served as the
precursor to his future conduct. He here repeats, "I have promised to
respect your security and property, I have fulfilled my promise, and
none of you can doubt my word. Notwithstanding this, I know that you
murmur secretly, and some of you malignantly circulate the idea that my
designs are to surprize your confidence. My name is of sufficient
celebrity not to stain it with the infraction of my promises, even
though it be conceived that as an individual I might fail in their
fulfilment. Spaniards! you well know that the public opinion is such,
that even among yourselves there are many who spy and observe your
conduct; I am informed of every thing that passes, in the most retired
parts of your houses; tremble if you abuse my indulgence!"
Whether the system of espionage established by San Martin was in this
state of activity, like a volcano ready to burst and to destroy with its
ignited lava the peaceful habitation and the innocent inhabitant, who,
confiding in its harmless appearance, ventured to dwell within its
destructive range, it may be impossible to determine; but it seems
somewhat derogatory to the character of a supreme chief, guarded by
twelve thousand armed men, that he should thus threaten two or three
hundred unarmed individuals, who, relying on his assurances, had sworn
to follow the fortunes of the country, and live subject to the
newly-established system of government. Besides, such a manifestation
was calculated to do away with the apparent object of the proclamation
of the seventeenth of July, already quoted, and to fan the flame of
civil discord and dissention--the greatest enemies to public
tranquillity.
The twelfth of August produced the publication of the act in Lima, which
in all free parts of the ex-Spanish colonies so highly distinguishes,
and justifies in such a particular manner the revolution in those
countries. The voice of reason and of nature announced, that all
children born of slaves on or after the twenty-eighth of August, 1821,
were to be free, and that they were to be inheritors of the same rights
and privileges as the rest of the citizens of Peru.
On the eighteenth the news arrived, that the divisions of the Spanish
army under Cantarac and Caratalá had formed their head quarters at
Jauja, thirty leagues from Lima; and that La Serna was at the town of
Carania on the twenty-ninth of July, advancing with the troops towards
the same point. Still the liberating army remained quiet in their
barracks at Lima, or were employed in the siege of Callao.
One of the first acts of the arbitrary disposition of the Protector of
Peru was the expulsion of the archbishop. The following is a copy of the
correspondence:
"Ministry of War, Lima, twenty-second August, 1821.--Most Excellent
Sir,--Nothing is more conformable with the religious ideas of his
excellency the Protector of Peru than to promote in every possible
manner which prudence dictates those pious establishments which serve as
a prop to public morals. But it is at the same time his duty to avoid
those evils which, under a zeal for religion, might cause a spirit of
opposition to the general vote of America. In this dilemma are those
houses of spiritual exercises in this city; where (his excellency has
been informed) abuses of the most serious tendency to the cause of the
country are committed by the venerable influence of the priesthood.
"In attention to this, his excellency the Protector commands me to
inform your most illustrious excellency, that the spiritual exercises be
suspended for the present in those houses, until they be placed under
the direction of patriotic clergymen, who may merit the confidence of
the government, who consult the spiritual welfare of the faithful, and
the support of the new institutions to which his excellency is called to
Peru. I have the honour, &c. (Signed) Bernardo Monteagudo."
(Answer by the archbishop.)
"Ever since the establishment of the houses of spiritual exercises they
have been protected and supported by the popes and other prelates of the
church, fully aware of their utility to the faithful. Those founded in
this city are deserving of credit for the copious harvest they have
produced, in attention to which, without scruples of conscience, and a
risk of public disgust, it is impossible for me to order them to be
closed. If in them any excess be committed, or any confessor should
pretend to disturb the peace or public order, the moment that such is
known the necessary measures shall be adopted for his punishment, which
is my reply to your note of the twenty-second.--God preserve, &c. Lima,
August 26th, 1821. (Signed) Bartolomé, Archbishop of Lima."
(Second note from the government.)
"Most Excellent and most Illustrious Sir,--On the twenty-second instant
his excellency the Protector of Peru ordered, that you should be
informed of the necessity that existed of closing for the present the
houses of spiritual exercises. In that note, after expressing those
religious sentiments which filled his bosom, and which he never can
belie, you are informed, that it was not his intention to close them for
any considerable length of time, to the detriment of the faithful, who
derived from them spiritual consolation, but that it was only for the
present, because this was necessary to public tranquillity. Thus his
excellency observes with regret that your most illustrious excellency
resists the fulfilment of his order, and he commands me to inform you,
that you are to lay aside all scruples of conscience in obeying this
order of the government, and those scruples which may afterwards present
themselves with respect to other orders, the fulfilment of which will be
equally necessary. It is convenient that your excellency should meditate
on the evils that would follow, should the most perfect harmony not
exist between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, and that you
decide on that line of conduct which you intend to adopt, in the
intelligence that the orders of his excellency the Protector are
irrevocable. By superior order I communicate this to your excellency for
your guidance, and present my sentiments of respect and veneration, &c.,
&c. Lima, August 27th, 1821. (Signed) J. Garcia del Rio."
(The archbishop's reply.)
"I have read with the greatest attention your note of the twenty-seventh
of August, in which you communicate to me, by order of the Protector of
Peru, that his excellency has observed with regret my resistance to the
fulfilment of his order, to close the houses of spiritual exercises: to
resist, and to remonstrate submissively are not the same thing: the
first is the effect of arms and violence; the second that of veneration
and respect, when the inconveniences which present themselves are
expressed: in this manner my note was written. I have, moreover, other
reasons for thus explaining myself--his excellency in his religious
goodness had promised me that in ecclesiastical matters, and points of
religion, he would agree with my opinion, to the end that nothing should
be done in violation of the rules of the church.
"I hope these reflections will save me from the irksome epithet of
having resisted the orders of the government, and that consequently the
contents of my answer will not be read with regret. I cannot omit
saying, that with the greatest anguish, and a heart swimming in
bitterness, I have read that the government has several orders to give;
and if to them I have scruples of conscience to oppose in their
fulfilment, I decide on that line of conduct which I intend to follow,
in the intelligence that the decrees which will be issued are to be
immutable. This advice carries with it a very elevated spirit, if we
suppose that the orders to be given should relate to religious or
ecclesiastical matters; for in civil affairs, and those of the
government, I have signified my opinion by my prompt obedience: and what
may those commands contain? will they in any manner violate the existing
discipline of the church? will they be prejudicial to morality? or will
they oppose the maxims of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Because, for these
cases, GOD has constituted bishops as the pastors and guards of that
flock which Jesus Christ purchased at the price of his blood, who are to
shout, to whistle, and restrain the ill conduct: he tells us, that we
are not to be cowards in the presence of the greatest potentates of the
earth, and that, if necessary, we should shed our blood and lay down
our lives in so just a cause; anathematising us on the contrary as dumb
dogs that did not bark when the spiritual health of his flock was in
danger.
"Behold, then, that one of the principal obligations of a bishop is to
defend with rigour the deposit of doctrine and faith which has been
confided to him; and if the threatened danger be from any great
potentate, to remonstrate, with respect and submission, to the end that
he be not their accomplices and participators in the crime, by a
cowardly condescension. This was practised by Saint John Chrysostom,
with the emperors of the east; by Saint Ambrose, with those of the west;
and by Saint Augustine with the pro-consuls of Africa; those were the
great lords on earth; but notwithstanding; those bishops remonstrated
when they commanded any thing that might injure religion or the church;
and is it possible that the supreme government of this city shall inform
the archbishop that he is blindly to obey, and execute the decrees that
may be given in religious and ecclesiastical matters, even though they
disturb his conscience, and appear to him to be opposed to orthodox
doctrines, because such decrees are to be irresistible? Oh!
"irresistible decrees"--this expression appears to me to be very
strong, and little used by jurists and theologians; they opine that all
human authority, however great it may be, and however vast and profound
its acquired knowledge, can never arrive at a degree of infallibility in
its decisions; it may always be deceived or deceive: consequently its
resolutions ought never to be invariable--this privilege the Supreme
Being alone possesses. Fenelon and other politicians assert, that it is
more glorious, and a proof of a more elevated soul in that monarch or
government who, convinced of having committed an error against religion,
reason or justice in their decrees, shall revoke them, than it is never
to err; indeed to insist on the execution of an order, merely because it
has been given in despite of the inconveniences and obstacles that have
been shown to exist; it being opposed to morality, evangelical doctrine,
and the dispositions of the church, is a most oppressive yoke. With
respect to myself, I can assure you, that I have often remonstrated and
even exclaimed against the decrees of my superiors; who, being satisfied
with the justness of my arguments, have ordered them to be revoked, or
varied. When a prelate of the church speaks on spiritual or
ecclesiastical points, he is worthy of being listened to, and his
reasonings examined, because God himself, by his evangelist St.
Matthew, says, that those who hear him hear the divinity, and that those
who despise him despise the Supreme Being.
"Notwithstanding this doctrine, you say in your note that I am to obey
the decrees of the government, without replying or remonstrating,
because they are irrevocable; or that I choose the line of conduct I
intend to adopt; this I did on the twenty-fourth of July last, when I
put into the hands of his excellency my written resignation of the
archiepiscopal dignity, begging his acceptance of it, for the reasons
therein alleged; I also begged that he would grant me a passport to
Europe by Panama, as my advanced age of eighty years, and consequent
debility, would not enable me to bear the hardships of a passage by Cape
Horn; his excellency acceded to my solicitude, and even promised to
procure me a vessel for my passage.
"If I then made a tender of my dignity, founded on the motives there
alleged, I now repeat it, adding to those causes that of not being able
to exist in a country where the prelate of the church is forced to keep
silence, and stifle the strongest sentiments of his conscience, and
obliged to act in opposition to them--I was born to become a citizen of
a celestial country; this is my only aim, and every thing that opposes
it, is, to me, disgusting. I hope that as soon as possible my
resignation will be accepted, that I may be relieved from a charge which
has become insupportable.--Our Lord preserve your life for many years.
"Bartolomé Maria de las Heras."
"Lima, Sept. 1st, 1821."
The answer to this note set forth, that the urgency of public business
did not allow time to answer with "victorious arguments" the
archbishop's reasonings; but that the whole correspondence should be
laid before the public for their opinion. This, however, never took
place, but the Protector accepted the resignation of the archbishop,
ordering his excellency to leave Lima within the term of forty-eight
hours, and to wait at Chancay, fourteen leagues from Lima, the
determination of the government.
On the thirteenth of November the archbishop embarked at Chancay for Rio
de Janeiro; the Protector, as in many other cases, forgetting to fulfil
his promise of preparing a vessel to conduct him to Panama.
Before leaving Chancay, the archbishop addressed the following letter to
Lord Cochrane:
"My Dear Lord,--The time is arrived for my return to Spain, the
Protector having granted to me the necessary passport. The polite
attention which I owe to your excellency, and the peculiar
qualifications which adorn and distinguish you, oblige me by this
measure to manifest to you my most sincere esteem and regard.
"In Spain, if God grants that I may arrive in safety, or in any other
part where I may exist, I request that you will deign to command me. On
leaving this country, I am convinced that its independence is for ever
sealed. This I will represent to the Spanish government and to the papal
see, and I will also do every thing to abate their obstinacy, and to
preserve the tranquillity, and to further the views of the inhabitants
of America, who are dear to me.
"Deign, my lord, to receive these sentiments as emanating from the
sincerity of my heart; and command your obliged servant and chaplain,
Bartolomé Maria de las Heras. November, 2nd, 1821."
On the ninth of November the bishop of Guamanga, a native of Piura, then
residing at Lima, was ordered to leave Peru within eight days, without
any reason being assigned for his exile, by the autocrat of Peru.
Although the Chilean squadron was at this moment of the most vital
importance to the operations of San Martin against the batteries of
Callao, yet the crews remained unpaid, and the supply of provisions was
so scanty, that, added to the general want of clothing, they were in a
state fast approaching to open mutiny, which was repeatedly made known
to the government at Lima, but the knowledge of the circumstances
produced no relief; it appeared as if San Martin, having failed in
gaining possession of it through the commander in chief, was determined
to starve it into submission, or to drive it to some more desperate act.
This his lordship reported to the government, as also, that he could not
be answerable for the conduct of those serving under him, unless the
government fulfilled their part of the contract.
On the seventeenth of August a decree appeared in the ministerial
gazette, ordering, that one-fifth of the duties collected at the
custom-house should be applied to defray the arrears and to the pay of
the army and navy. Instead of quieting the crews, this news drove them
almost to desperation, for although they were not aware that the money
assigned them was absolutely incompetent to supply the deficit, yet the
idea, that even when the time had arrived for the fulfilment of the
promise made to them before leaving Valparaiso, a new promise was made
to them, the fulfilment of which must depend on the receipts of the
custom-house, was incomprehensible to men whose only argument is, you
owe me money, and you must pay it me. The same decree also stated, that
the officers belonging to the Chilean squadron were equally officers of
Peru, and were to be considered as such: yet this step was taken without
ever consulting the will of the said officers; and certainly had they
accepted the honourable distinction, it must have been at the expense of
their oath of fidelity to Chile; but the object was to induce them to
consider themselves subject to the order of the Protector of Peru, for
the purpose of forming a plan yet in embryo.
The Spanish army at Jauja, in the beginning of September, spread some
alarm in Lima, from advices received of their movements. It appeared
that they were determined to attack the capital, and on the fifth the
following proclamation was issued at head quarters, by the Protector of
the liberty of Peru: "Inhabitants of Lima! It appears that the justice
of heaven, tired of tolerating for so long a time the oppressors of
Peru, now guides them to their destruction. Three hundred of those
troops who have desolated so many towns, burnt so many temples and
destroyed so many thousands of innocent victims, are at San Mateo, and
two hundred more at San Damian. If they advance on this capital, it will
be with the design of immolating you to their vengeance; and to force
you to purchase at a high price your decision, and enthusiasm for
independence: vain hope! The valiant who have liberated the illustrious
Lima, those who protect her in the most difficult moments, know how to
preserve her against the fury of the Spanish army. Yes, inhabitants of
this capital, my troops will not abandon you; they and myself are going
to triumph over that army which, thirsty of our blood and property, is
advancing, or we will perish with honour, for we will never witness your
disgrace. In return for this noble devotion, and that it may receive the
favourable success of which it is worthy, all we require of you is,
union, tranquillity and efficacious co-operation; this alone is
necessary to ensure the felicity and splendour of Peru.--San Martin."
The night before this proclamation was published, the Protector rose
from his seat at the theatre, after the performance was concluded, and
in words similar to those contained in the proclamation, spoke to the
people; the greatest enthusiasm was displayed, and the national hymn was
sung three times by all present, when the Protector retired, and was
followed to his palace by the music and an immense concourse of people.
On the seventh the army under San Martin took the field at Mansanilla,
to the eastward of Lima; the Protector occupying the farm house of the
same name, about a league from the city. All the Spaniards residing in
Lima were immediately collected in the convent of La Merced, to prevent
any insult from being offered to them; but a false alarm being given to
the inhabitants, that the Spanish troops were about to enter the city,
they immediately surrounded the convent, where they were with difficulty
prevented from entering and putting the Spaniards to death. After order
had been restored, the prisoners were sent down to Ancon, and placed on
board two of the transports lying there at anchor. The state of Lima on
the seventh was the most evident proof of the determination of the
inhabitants to defend their city; men, women, and children of every age,
colour, and condition, paraded the streets with such arms as they could
procure; these however were very useless ones, for San Martin had
collected the arms belonging to private individuals a few days after his
arrival in Lima. Many persons had carried to the tops of their houses
quantities of stones, while others prepared pans and wood, for the
purpose of heating water, and all were determined to give a _warm_
reception to the enemy, should they enter the streets of Lima.
On the evening of the ninth, Lord Cochrane received on board the
O'Higgins an official communication, informing him that the enemy was
under the walls of Lima, and repeating the request, that his lordship
would send to the army every kind of portable arms then on board the
squadron, as well as the marines, and all volunteers; because the
Protector was "determined to bring the enemy to an action, and either
conquer or remain buried in the ruins of what _was_ Lima." This heroic
note, however, was accompanied by a private one from Monteagudo,
containing a request, that the boats of the vessels of war might be kept
in readiness, and a look out on the beach of Boca Negra, for the service
of those who might escape, in case of a defeat.
On the morning of the tenth Lord Cochrane, believing that at such a
moment the mind of San Martin would be too much employed with public
affairs to think of private resentment, and that he might partake in the
glories of the day on shore, landed at Boca Negra; but not wishing to
pass through the capital, he chose the road leading to La Magdalena, for
the purpose of crossing the fields to head quarters at Mansanilla.
Passing near some mounds of earth, called las huacas, three officers on
horseback were observed standing on one of them, and his lordship,
supposing them to belong to the American army, would have gone and asked
them the news; but as there was no opening in the tapial, or wall-fence,
we rode forward and took a path leading across the fields, about three
hundred yards from the mounds. His lordship would not then return, but
said to Capt. Crosbie, let us haste to head quarters; when, on looking
to the right, we saw the Spanish infantry defiling into the lane, about
five hundred yards from us; Lord Cochrane immediately pressed forward to
San Martin's camp, where being immediately recognized by several
officers, a murmur of congratulation was heard, and even Guise and Spry
exclaimed, "we shall have some fighting now the Admiral is come."
General las Heras, acting as general in chief, saluting the Admiral,
begged of him to endeavour to persuade the Protector to bring the enemy
to an action. His lordship then rode up to the house, and alighting,
was received by San Martin. Lord Cochrane immediately took the Protector
by the hand, and in the most earnest manner entreated him to attack the
enemy without losing a single moment; his entreaties, however, were in
vain, the only answer he received was, "my measures are taken, _mis
medidas están tomadas_." Notwithstanding this apathy, his lordship
remonstrated, stating the situation in which he had not five minutes
before observed the enemy's infantry, and begged of the Protector to
ascend an eminence at the back of the house, and convince himself how
easily the victory might be obtained; but he only received the same cold
reply, "mis medidas están tomadas." At this instant the clamour of the
officers in the patio of the house roused San Martin; he called for his
horse and mounted. In a moment all was bustle, and the anticipated glow
of victory shone in every countenance; the order "to arms" was given,
and instantly obeyed by the whole army, which amounted to about twelve
thousand men, including the Guerilla parties, all anxious to begin the
fight, and all determined either to conquer or to die. The Protector
beckoned to the Admiral and General las Heras, who immediately left the
group of officers with whom they were conversing, and rode up to the
Protector, hoping that he was either about to consult them respecting
the attack, or to inform them how it was to be conducted--but, at this
moment, a peasant entered the patio, and walked towards San Martin, who
with most unparalleled composure lent an attentive ear to his important
communications. He told the Protector of the liberties of Peru, that on
the preceding day he had seen the enemy, that they were a great many,
but that he did not know their exact number, not being able to count
them. These and other such important advices were received; his
excellency also questioned him as to his situation in life, and the
particular employment he followed; whether or not he was married, how
many children he had, and other things equally interesting to a general,
when the enemy was in sight. As an irrefragable proof of the patriotism
of this Peruvian peasant, he took from his pocket a piece of dry bread,
and assured his excellency that he had travelled from his home to
Mansanilla, to report what he knew of the enemy without having tasted
it; this was an opportunity not to be lost, in which the greatness of
the hero of South American independence might display that coolness in
the face of an enemy so peculiarly characteristic of great men; he
praised the patriotic virtues of the peasant, and promised him his
protection. The Admiral being disgusted with this mummery, and highly
exasperated at so unnecessary a waste of time, half unsheathed his
sword; he bade the peasant be gone; adding, "the general's time is too
important to be thus employed in listening to your fooleries." At this
indecorous interruption, San Martin frowned (as when he chooses he _can_
frown) on the Admiral, and riding up to the door of the house he
alighted, went in and gave audience to some old women who had come to
solicit the discharge of their sons or nephews, to all whom his
excellency listened with his accustomed dignity and condescension.
Lord Cochrane and a great number of the officers again ascended the hill
at the back of the house, and his lordship afterwards requesting a
private conference with San Martin, (which was the last time he ever
spoke with him) he assured him that it was not too late to attack the
enemy; he begged and entreated that the opportunity might not be lost,
and offered himself to lead the cavalry; but to all this he only
received the cold reply, "I alone am responsible for the liberties of
Peru, _yo solo soy responsable de la libertad del Peru_;" when the
Protector retired to an inner apartment of the house, to enjoy his
customary _ciesta_, afternoon nap, which was however disturbed by
General las Heras, who came to receive orders, and inform his excellency
that the army was still under arms. San Martin observing that it was
four o'clock, the supper hour for his soldiers, ordered that they should
receive their rations.
When San Martin assured Lord Cochrane that "he alone was responsible for
the liberty of Peru," his lordship, convinced that any future attempt
would be attended with the same success, mounted his horse; but Captain
Crosbie, still hoping that something would take place, requested
permission to remain at head quarters, which being granted, we rode down
to Boca Negra, and embarked.
The British ship of war the Superb was at this time in the bay of
Callao, and several of the officers, expecting to see the decisive blow
struck in Peru, repaired to San Martin's head quarters, and were
astounded at the coolness of a general, who, commanding twelve thousand
men, should first abandon a favourable position in which he might have
intercepted the march of the Spaniards, and then see an enemy composed
of three thousand two hundred men pass without any hinderance, nay,
without a single shot being fired, or without one attempt being made to
bring them to action.
After Cantarac had led his troops into the batteries of Callao, in a
manner that would have done honour to a Napoleon, the rejoicing was
announced by the firing of guns, and other demonstrations, which would
have harassed the soul of any leader, excepting that of the prudent San
Martin. The American army marched to their old camp at the Legua,
between Lima and Callao.
On the morning of the eleventh, Don Fernando Maso, who had been
permitted by Lord Cochrane to land at Callao from the English brig
Colonel Allen, came on board the O'Higgins, and asked his lordship, "if
on the preceding day he had observed some officers on the huacas?"
"Yes," returned his lordship. "They were," said Maso, "General Cantarac
and his two edecans." Thus it was evident, that had the admiral rode up
to them, as he at first intended, he would in all probability have been
taken prisoner, for neither himself nor any one with him had any other
arms than their swords. On the evening of the eleventh Lord Cochrane
received an official communication from San Martin, stating, "I have
taken such measures, that not one of the enemy can escape; by shutting
themselves up in the batteries of Callao, they have delivered themselves
up to me, and not one of them shall escape." But, to the surprise of all
unacquainted with the consummate prudence of the Protector, Cantarac
left the batteries on the seventeenth early in the morning, and having
crossed the Rimac, marched without any molestation into the interior;
nothing was done or attempted, except that eight hundred men were
ordered to follow him and harass his rear, and protect such soldiers as
might desert.
Thus General Cantarac, with three thousand two hundred men, passed to
the southward of Lima, in sight of the protecting army of Peru, composed
of twelve thousand, entered the batteries of Callao, where he refreshed
and rested his troops for six days, and then retired, taking with him
arms and treasure, and retreating with his booty on the north side of
Lima, leaving the victorious San Martin to publish the following
proclamation, which appeared in the ministerial gazette on the
nineteenth:
"It is now fifteen days since the liberating army left the capital,
resolved not to permit that even the shadow of the Spanish flag should
again darken the illustrious city of Lima. The enemy haughtily
descended the mountains, filled with the calculations they had formed in
their ignorant meditations; they fancied, that to come and to view our
camp was enough to conquer us; but they found valour armed with
prudence; they acknowledged their inferiority; they trembled at the idea
of the hour of battle, and profited by the hour of darkness; [from
eleven to three o'clock in the day!] and they sought an asylum in
Callao. My army began its march, and at the end of eight days of
uncertainty, the enemy has had to fly precipitately, convinced of their
impotency to try the fortune of war, or to remain in the position which
they held.
"The desertion which they experience ensures us, that, before they reach
the mountains, there will only exist a handful of men, terrified and
confounded with the remembrance of the colossal power which they had a
year ago, and which has now disappeared like the fury of the waves of
the sea at the dawn of a serene morning. The liberating army pursues the
fugitives; they shall be dissolved or beaten. At all events the capital
of Peru shall never be profaned with the footsteps of the enemies of
America: this truth is peremptory: the Spanish empire is at end for
ever: Peruvians, your destiny is irrevocable; consolidate it by the
constant exercise of those virtues which you have shewn in the epoch of
conflicts. You are independent, and nothing can prevent your being
happy, if you will it so to be. San Martin."
It would be an act of injustice not to mention here, that General las
Heras, wounded to the very soul at the conduct of San Martin, which
cannot possibly bear any other epithet than that of cowardice, left the
service of Peru, or rather of the Protector of Peru, and requested his
passport to Chile, which was granted. His example was followed by
several officers of the army, who, disgusted with what had taken place,
preferred obscurity, and even poverty, to that odious title which every
true soldier and patriot detests.
Had the force under General Cantarac been attacked, it must have been
beaten: the inferiority of it in every point, except discipline, ensured
success to the patriot arms: these were treble the number of the enemy,
fresh, vigorous, and enthusiastic; enjoying the opportunity of choosing
the most advantageous positions, and in sight of the capital of the
country, whose liberty they had sworn to defend; while the Spanish
division was harassed with a long march, without any personal
incitement, and nothing before them but the prospect of a few days'
rest, and a return to the interior, in which they knew, that beside the
ground they trod on, no one in that part of the globe acknowledged their
domination, or obeyed their commands. If it be asked, who is blameable
for this dereliction of duty to the cause of American liberty? I must
answer, San Martin! The Spaniards themselves confess, that had the
division under Cantarac been destroyed on the tenth of September, they
should have lost all hopes of re-conquering the country, and should have
immediately negociated in the most honourable terms possible for
themselves, and abandoned America. Consequently, the torrents of blood
which have been shed in Peru since the tenth of September, 1821; the
miseries and privations of thousands in that portion of the new world;
the disaffection of the natives to the just cause of their country, and
their services to their Spanish leaders; the necessity of an army from
Colombia to save Peru from an ignominious subjection to her ancient
oppressors; all owe their origin to the success of the Spanish division
on this day, which, although they obtained no decisive victory,
accomplished the object which brought them from the interior.
Fearing a reverse at Lima, on the approach of the Spanish troops under
General Cantarac, the treasures belonging to the government, as well as
the property of many individuals, had been sent down to Ancon and
embarked, not on board the Chilean frigate Lautaro, then at anchor in
that port, but in several merchant vessels, to prevent them falling into
the hands of the enemy. On the fifteenth of September Lord Cochrane
received a letter from Captain Delano, who commanded the Lautaro,
informing him that the state of insubordination in the remains of the
crew of the Lautaro had risen to a very high pitch; for they observed
the daily embarkation of money in the different merchant vessels, and
this indicated, as they supposed, the jeopardy in which San Martin was
placed with the army; that they saw no probability their arrears would
ever be paid; that should the enemy be successful they would be
constrained to continue in the service, under a prolongation of the
sufferings they had already experienced; and that on this account he
dreaded a mutiny, and consequent plunder of the vessels in the bay.
On hearing this Lord Cochrane went down to Ancon in the O'Higgins, and
personally, before witnesses, sent on board the flag ship all the
treasures found on board the different vessels, belonging _apparently_
to the state of Peru, leaving all such as had been embarked by
individuals, having the customary documents, and for which his lordship
took the necessary certificates to prove that such sums had remained
untouched. His lordship at the same time informed such persons as
claimed any property, and many others at Ancon, that his only object was
to possess himself of such money or treasures as belonged to the
government of Peru; and that whatever belonged to private individuals
should be restored, on application being made by the owners; as was the
case with Dr. Unanue, Don Juan Aguero, Don Manuel Silva, Don Manuel
Primo, and several others. After having given up all the claimed money,
two hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars remained on board the flag
ship. They were immediately applied to the payment of one year's arrears
to every individual excepting the Admiral, who declined receiving any
part of what was due to him; the surplus was reserved for the repairs of
the squadron, and its equipment, and the most rigid account was kept of
the several disbursements, and given in to the Chilean government.
After the return of his lordship to Callao, a long correspondence took
place with San Martin respecting the property taken at Ancon. The
General requested, and entreated in the most urgent terms the
restoration of the treasure, promised the faithful fulfilment of all his
former engagements, and that the return of this money was merely
insisted on to save the credit of the government. The Admiral answered,
that the means for the fulfilment of his engagements were now ready, and
that by sending a commissioned officer on board to be a witness to the
proper distribution; that this being public would certainly save the
credit of the government with those individuals to whom it was most
indebted, and that the landing of the money would only be an increase of
labour, because the persons to whom it was due were not on shore.
San Martin then asserted, that the money taken at Ancon was all that the
government was in possession of, for the most indispensable daily
expenses; but to this his lordship replied, that had he known that the
treasure placed on board the schooner Sacramento, for the admission of
which, in silver, the captain asserted that he had to throw overboard
part of his ballast, besides seven surrones (bags made of hide) of
doubloons, and a quantity of brute gold, was not the property of the
government but of his excellency, he should certainly have seized it,
and retained it until properly claimed. San Martin, after availing
himself of every possible argument with the Admiral, addressed a
proclamation to the seamen and marines, which by his lordship's order
was distributed on board the vessels of war; but producing no favourable
effect, the Protector, knowing that the payments had begun, wrote to the
Admiral, saying that "he might employ the money as he thought most
proper."
After the departure of Cantarac from Callao on the seventeenth, Lord
Cochrane was informed of the state of the batteries, and proposed to the
Governor General La Mar terms of capitulation; they were, that the
fortifications of Callao should be surrendered to the Chilean flag; that
one third of the private property in the batteries should be given up,
for the purpose of paying the arrears of the crews of the Chilean
vessels of war; that the owners should be allowed to leave the batteries
with the remainder, and that at their own expense vessels should be
procured to carry them either to Europe or to any other place.
When these terms were on the point of being acceded to, the Protector
(who had also been negociating with the governor) was informed of the
terms offered by the Admiral; and on the morning of the twentieth
Colonel Guido was commissioned to accede to such as General La Mar
should propose, which were naturally the most honourable and most
profitable to the Spaniards. At ten o'clock on the morning of the
twenty-first the American troops entered the castles, and the Peruvian
flag was hoisted. On the same day the name of the Real Felipe was
changed into that of Castilla de la Independencia; that of San Miguel,
into Castillo del Sol; and that of San Rafael into Castillo de Santa
Rosa.
Although the tribunals of purification, established by General Carátalá
in Upper Peru, and in Chile by the President Marco, had been so
oppressive, and had been so reprobated as unjust and tyrannical by the
Americans, one was established in Lima by San Martin on the
twenty-seventh of September, for the purpose of examining the past
conduct of the Spaniards, who relying on the promises repeatedly made by
San Martin, had remained in Peru, and taken the oath of independence.
This proceeding was aggravated on the twenty-seventh by a proclamation,
stating that "no Spaniard should leave his house, under any pretence
whatever, after sunset (oraciones) under the penalty of confiscation of
his property, and exile from the country:" some few exceptions however
were added to this protectoral decree.
The foreign seamen who were all paid at Callao, except the crew of the
Valdivia, who deserted their ship at Ancon, preferring a reliance on the
promises of San Martin to the certainty of being paid out of the money
taken for this purpose, were allowed to go on shore, and after waiting
for a few days his lordship sent Lieutenant Wynter to engage such as
were willing to continue in the service of Chile, when, to the utter
astonishment of every one, he was arrested by the order of San Martin,
and sent to the castle, but owing to the energetic official
communication of the Admiral he was liberated on the following day.
The same persevering spirit to destroy the Chilean squadron was still
visible in the conduct of the Protector of Peru. Every officer who
abandoned the vessels of war was received under the flag of Peru, and
many were promoted, amounting in the whole to sixteen, being four
captains, three lieutenants, two masters, three pursers, two officers of
marines, and two surgeons; besides the captains of the Valdivia and
Galvarino, with five officers belonging to the former. The seamen who
had been paid were allured to remain on shore, in hopes of the year's
pay as a premium; and when an officer from the very vessels of war whose
co-operation had placed San Martin at the head of the Peruvian
government went ashore for the purpose of recruiting foreign seamen for
the future operations of the squadron, against the two Spanish frigates
still in the Pacific, he was incarcerated. But the most infamous
transaction that can possibly blacken the character of a ruler took
place on the night of the twenty-sixth.
At midnight Lord Cochrane was informed that Colonel Paroissien and
Captain Spry had been on board the brig of war, Galvarino, and shortly
afterwards Captain Simpson of the Araucano came on board the flag ship,
and delivered to his lordship the paper which he had received from these
two honourable gentlemen; stating, that the squadron of Chile was under
the command of the General in chief, and not under that of the Admiral,
who was an inferior officer in the service; and that, consequently, it
was the duty of the captains and commanders to obey the orders they
might receive from San Martin. After leaving the Araucano, the two
edecanes, military and naval, went on board the Valdivia, where they
found Captain Crosbie of the flag ship, on a visit to Captain Cobbett of
the Valdivia.
After delivering to Captain Cobbett a paper similar in import to the one
left with Captain Simpson, the two gentlemen began to expatiate on the
munificence and liberality of their employer; the preference which an
officer ought to give to the service of a rich and extensive state to
that of Chile, which must necessarily dwindle into its former
insignificance, and become tributary to Peru for its support; that the
authority of the Protector of Peru over the whole of the Chilean forces
was unquestionable, and it consequently became the duty of every officer
belonging to the expeditionary forces to obey the orders of their
general in chief. On being asked, if, for disobedience of orders or
mutinous conduct, they should subject themselves to a court martial by
the order of the Admiral, whether the authority of the Protector would
ensure to them a favourable sentence or an honourable acquittal, they
became silent. This was bringing the argument too close, and perhaps the
idea of a trial and a sentence were not very congenial to the feelings
of the nocturnal commissioners, at that time "in or belonging to" the
squadron of Chile. Perceiving that the result was not likely to answer
their expectations, and that Captain Crosbie had left them on board the
Valdivia and gone to the flag-ship, they judged it more prudent to visit
the Admiral, than to run any risk of being compelled to do it. At one
o'clock the boat came alongside, and Colonel Paroissien requested an
interview with his lordship, which was granted; but Captain Spry justly
thought himself more secure in the boat, and remained there. After some
extraordinary conversation between Lord Cochrane and Paroissien, who
regretted and lamented in the most pathetic manner, "that the present
unlucky difference between the two chiefs should deprive his lordship of
the enjoyment of the command of the Peruvian navy, (which did not exist)
and the possession of property in Peru, which it was the intention of
the Protector to present to him," his lordship put a stop to the
harangue, and said, smiling, "I do not doubt your wishes for my
prosperity, Paroissien, but at present I know you would rather join me
in a bottle of wine than be obliged to continue in your regret and
lamentation." After drinking a glass or two of wine, Colonel Paroissien
embarked in his boat and pulled ashore, more happy no doubt when under
the guns of the batteries of Callao than alongside the O'Higgins.
San Martin having failed in this last honourable attempt to seduce the
officers belonging to the state of Chile, and fearing that the publicity
of the act might induce the people of Peru to be on the alert, ordered
Lord Cochrane, in the most peremptory manner, to leave the bay of
Callao, with the vessels under his command, being persuaded, that, for
want of European seamen, it would be impossible to do so; but on the
sixth of October, eight days after his notification, the whole of the
vessels of war, with two prizes, weighed simultaneously, and stood out
of the bay.
Having come to an anchor at Ancon, his lordship ordered the Lautaro and
Galvarino to proceed on the eighth to Valparaiso; and the O'Higgins,
Independencia, Valdivia, Auraucano, and prizes San Fernando and Mercedes
weighed and sailed for Guayaquil, where the Admiral had determined to
repair, and refit for a cruize on the coast of Mexico, in search of the
two Spanish frigates.
On the fifteenth we reached the Puná in the river Guayaquil, and on the
eighteenth came to an anchor close to the city, where the squadron was
saluted with twenty-one guns, and the compliment was returned with an
equal number.