INJUSTICE TO THE SQUADRON--INCONSISTENCY OF THIS--ESTATE TAKEN FROM
ME--MY LOSSES BY LITIGATION--ENDEAVOURS TO ENFORCE MY CLAIMS--PETTY
EXCUSES FOR EVADING THEM--I AM CHARGED WITH EXPENSES OF THE ARMY--AND
WITH COSTS FOR MAKING LEGAL CAPTURES--MY CONDUCT APPROVED AT THE
TIME--MINISTERIAL APPROBATION--PALTRY COMPENSATION AT LENGTH
GIVEN--MINISTERIAL CORRUPTION--PROVED BY SAN MARTIN--CAUSE OF OFFICIAL
ANIMOSITY TO ME----CONCLUSION.
My services to Chili and Peru have been so fully narrated in these
pages, that recapitulation is unnecessary. I will, therefore, briefly
notice their reward.
I was compelled to quit Chili by the political dissensions previously
related--without any of the emoluments due to my position as
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, or any share of the sums belonging to
myself, officers, and seamen; which sums, on the faith of repayment had,
at my solicitation, been appropriated to the repairs and maintenance of
the squadron generally, but more especially at Guayaquil and Acapulco,
when in pursuit of the _Prueba_ and _Venganza_. Neither was any
compensation made for the value of stores captured and collected by the
squadron, whereby its efficiency was chiefly maintained during the whole
period of the Peruvian blockade.
The revolutionary movements already detailed, also compelled me to quit
the Pacific without any compensation from Peru, either to myself or the
officers who remained faithful to Chili--though my absence ought not to
have operated as a bar to such compensation as the Sovereign Congress
awarded to the generals and field officers of the army, who, though
restrained by General San Martin from effecting anything of importance
towards the liberation of the country, nevertheless received 500,000
dollars as a reward, whilst nothing was bestowed on myself or the
squadron, except thanks for "hazardous exploits on behalf of Peru,
hitherto," as the Congress expressed it, "under the _tyranny of military
despotism_, but now the arbiter of its own fate." To the "military
despot" himself, a pension of 20,000 dollars was granted, no doubt, as
has been said, in order to be rid of him; but it was I who gave the
death-blow to his usurped power, by seizing the treasure at Ancon to pay
the squadron, and by my constant refusal of his insidious overtures to
aid him in further treading under foot the liberties of Peru. It is
scarcely possible that the Government of Peru, even at this day, can
contrast with any degree of satisfaction, the empty thanks which were
alone given to one--to use the words of the Sovereign Congress in its
laudatory vote to myself--"by whose talent, worth, and bravery, the
Pacific Ocean has been liberated from the insults of enemies, and the
standard of liberty has been planted on the shores of the South"--and
its lavish reward to the enemy of that liberty, and even to those
officers who deserted from Chili to aid the specious views of the
Protector, of which rewards all who remained faithful to their duty were
wholly deprived.
Still more inconsistent has been the neglect of succeeding Peruvian
Governments in not fulfilling existing obligations. The Supreme Director
of Chili, recognising--as must also the Peruvians--the justice of their
paying, at least, the value of the _Esmeralda_, the capture of which
inflicted the death-blow on Spanish power, sent me a bill on the
Peruvian Government for 120,000 dollars, which was dishonoured, and
never since paid by any succeeding Government. Even the 40,000 dollars
stipulated by the authorities at Guayaquil as the penalty of giving up
the _Venganza_ was never liquidated, though the frigate was delivered to
Peru contrary to written stipulations previously adduced--and was thus
added to the Peruvian navy without cost to the State, but in reality at
the expense of the Chilian squadron, which ran it down into Guayaquil.
How the successive Governments of Peru can have reconciled this
appropriation to the injury of one whom their first independent
Government so warmly eulogised, it is difficult to conceive.
To return, however, to my relations with Chili. Shortly after my
departure for Brazil, the Government forcibly and indefensibly resumed
the estate at Rio Clara, which had been awarded to me and my family in
perpetuity, as a remuneration for the capture of Valdivia, and my
bailiff, Mr. Edwards, who had been left upon it for its management and
direction, was summarily ejected. Situated as this estate was, upon the
borders of the Indian frontier, it was, indeed, a trifling remuneration
for overthrowing the last remnant of Spanish power in the continental
territory of Chili. To have resumed it then, without pretext of any
kind, was an act reflecting infinite discredit upon those who
perpetrated that act, whether from revengeful feelings or baser motives.
The sum of 67,000 dollars, the speedy payment of which was promised to
me by the Supreme Director after our return from Valdivia, was never
paid, though the conquest of that fortress proved the immediate cause of
success in negociating a loan in England, which, before that event, had
been found impracticable. By a remarkable coincidence, the first
instalment of the loan arrived at Valparaiso at the period of my
departure; but the English merchants to whose care it was consigned,
refused to permit the money to be landed, in consequence of the
disorganization in which the corrupt conduct of the ministry had
involved the State.
No compensation for the severe wounds received during the capture of the
_Esmeralda_ was either offered or received--though for these all States
make separate provision. Even the Grand Cross of the Legion of Merit,
conferred for the capture of the _Esmeralda_, was suspended; whilst, in
its place, I was exposed to the greatest imaginable insults, even to the
withdrawal of every ship of war from under my command.
Unhappily, this ingratitude for services rendered was the least
misfortune which my devotedness to Chili brought upon me. On my return
to England, in 1825, after the termination of my services in Brazil, I
found myself involved in litigation on account of the seizure of
neutral vessels by authority of the then unacknowledged Government of
Chili. These litigations cost me, directly, upwards of £.14,000, and
indirectly, more than double that amount; for, in order to meet the
expenses, I was compelled to dispose of property at a great sacrifice,
amongst which the loss arising from the sale of my residence and grounds
in the Regent's Park alone was upwards of £.6,000--whilst that on other
property also sacrificed was as much more; thus, in place of receiving
anything for my efforts in the cause of Chilian and Peruvian
independence, I was a loser of upwards of £.25,000, this being more than
double the whole amount I had received as pay whilst in command of the
Chilian squadron: in other words, not only did I obtain no compensation
for my services in Chili--but was, in addition, compelled to sacrifice
all I afterwards earned in Brazil to satisfy claims arising from
seizures made under the authority of the Chilian Government! No
consideration whatever for these losses has been shewn by those whom I
so zealously and faithfully served in their hour of need; not even by
Peru, in behalf of which country nearly all these litigations arose,
though the services of the squadron cost nothing to that country or
Chili, beyond the expense to the latter of its original ineffective
equipment, the provisioning and maintenance of the ships having been
provided for at the cost of the enemy, even to the payment of the crews
with their own prize-money, none of which was ever refunded!
For sixteen years I made unceasing efforts to induce the succeeding
Governments of Chili to liquidate my claims, but without effect. At the
expiration of that period, I was no less surprised than annoyed by
receiving from the Accountant-General a demand for explanation of my
accounts, though, whilst I remained in Chili, I had urged incessantly
their official investigation, for, notwithstanding that the Government
had pronounced its approbation upon all I had done, I foresaw that
quibbles might arise as the pretext for continued injustice.
That the accounts were not adjusted previous to my departure from Chili,
was no fault of mine, as I was, in self-defence, compelled to quit the
country, unless I chose to take part with the late Supreme Director, in
supporting a ministry which, unknown to him, were guilty of the most
avaricious and injurious acts--or aid Gen. Freire in overthrowing one to
whom I was attached, as having always believed him to be a sincere and
honourable man.
To call upon me, therefore, in the year 1838, for an explanation of
complicated accounts delivered to the Chilian Government and
unquestioned in 1821-2, was an unworthy course, the more so as most of
the explanations required were of a paltry description, even to the
expenditure of a single dollar in the purser's accounts--as though
amidst operations of such magnitude as had successfully resulted in the
accomplishment of every object proposed, my time could be occupied in
minor details, yet even to these I was compelled to attend, the
Government not furnishing me with a competent person to register the
expenditure of the squadron.
The explanations thus demanded, after a lapse of nearly twenty years,
were one hundred in number--no great amount in a series of accounts
extending over more than three years' prosecution of an arduous service,
during which I had to find the means of supporting the squadron, the
expenditure of which was now, for the first time, called into question.
The paltry character of many of the matters in dispute will be best
judged of from the following items:--
No. 4. Vouchers demanded for ten dollars' worth of mutton.
23 to 32. Certificates for cases of gin lost in the San Martin.
40. Deficiency of nine dollars in the pay-books of the Lautaro.
42. Do. of three dollars in the pay-books of the Independencia.
69. Error of three dollars in the valuation of goods captured at
Arica.
73. Forty dollars for repairing pumps at a time when the ships
could hardly be kept afloat.
75. Imputed error of _one dollar!_ in the purchase of 756 gals.
of gin, &c. &c.
In addition to many such petty items, I was accused of giving bounty to
seamen unauthorised--though the seamen had captured the very monies with
which they were rewarded--and was expected to refund some which had been
stolen. My having supplied rudders and rigging to the vessels cut out
from before the batteries at Callao, was called into question, though
the ships could not be sent from the port without re-equipment, the
Spaniards having dismantled them before their capture. I was expected,
after the lapse of sixteen years, to produce the pursers' books of the
division of stores captured, the books having been sent in due course to
the Minister of Marine's office; yet the Government had not furnished
the squadron with the necessary articles for the safety of the ships,
whether under sail or at anchor, whilst the stores which were taken from
the enemy and applied to the use of the expedition, were so much clear
gain to the State.
A still more unjust act of the Chilian Government was that of calling
upon me for vouchers for the expenditure of 50,000 dollars, captured by
Col. Miller, in Upper Peru, and expended by him in paying and
provisioning his troops, of which transactions I was not at all
cognizant: the sums, however, were no doubt faithfully applied by Col.
Miller to the exigencies of the service in which he was engaged; he
merely apprising me that he had captured or otherwise collected 32,000
dollars, with which he had given his men two months' pay, and an
additional month's gratuity for their gallantry, a transaction no less
essential than honourable, but one which the narrow views of the
ministry failed to appreciate. No vouchers were, however, remitted to me
whilst I remained on the coast, as the following letter from Col. Miller
will shew:--
Ica, Aug. 27, 1821.
My Lord,
Inclosed is a memorandum of money received and
disbursed to the division under my command. So soon as time will
permit, another more detailed and circumstantial account shall be
forwarded for your Lordship's approval.
I have written to Major Soler, who is in Lima, to furnish your
Lordship with the necessary particulars relative to the capture of
the cash.
I have the honour, &c.
Wm. MILLER,
Col. Comm. Southern Division.
I never afterwards saw Col. Miller nor his division in Peru; but the
whole that was expended by him in emancipating the country, was charged
to me, and thus I was made responsible for the price of his victories,
though they did not cost either Government a dollar.
But the most flagrant act of injustice was the deduction from my claims
of costs and damages for the detention of neutral vessels seized under
the orders of blockade issued by the Chilian Government. The
circumstances were as follows:--
The Spanish Government had chartered the _Edward Ellice_ and other ships
to transport troops from Spain to Peru, but internal divisions in the
parent state prevented their despatch. The masters of these vessels
thereupon claimed demurrage, which it was not convenient for the Spanish
Government to pay--but in lieu thereof licences were granted to carry
Spanish goods to Peru. These ships, being thus loaded, proceeded to
Gibraltar, where the house of Gibbs & Co. provided them with British
papers, in addition to the Spanish manifests supplied at Cadiz--this
fact alone shewing that they considered the speculation illegitimate.
Furnished with these double sets of papers, they came to Peru for the
purpose of trading; but as I had advice of this proceeding--and
afterwards found the Spanish duplicates in the Peruvian Custom Houses--I
seized the vessels on account of the fraudulent papers, they having also
on board contraband of war, and was about to send them to Valparaiso for
adjudication, when their commanders offered to surrender to me all the
anchors, cables, and other illegal cargo, if I would forego this
determination, which I did, and applied these articles to the use of the
Chilian squadron, which at that time had not a trustworthy anchor in any
of the ships.
The course pursued was satisfactory to the masters and supercargoes, and
subsequently, on explanation, to Sir Thomas Hardy, whilst it was highly
approved by the Chilian Government. After my return to England, actions
were brought against me for even the contraband which had been
voluntarily surrendered by the masters; but as I was fortunately enabled
to produce the Spanish duplicates, they were abandoned, otherwise I
should have been involved in utter ruin, for releasing British vessels
subject to condemnation, and at the same time _gratuitously providing_
for the Chilian ships of war, the essential articles of which they were
entirely destitute.
In order to conciliate the English merchants at Valparaiso, the
Admiralty Court acquitted various vessels seized under the orders of the
Government, charging the costs and damages to my account! and that in
the face of its own right to blockade and seizure as expressed to the
British Commodore, Sir Thomas Hardy, who, though he insisted on the
protection of British ships, disavowed their taking advantage of his
protection to supply the enemy with contraband of war, as had been done.
Sir Thomas Hardy's view was this, that if the blockading power was not
in a position to render the blockade efficient over the whole coast, it
was not recognisable anywhere by the law of nations; but, whilst
expressing this erroneous view of blockade, he added, "nor can I resist
the right which the Government of Chili has to establish and maintain
blockade on the same footing as other belligerents."
But even in the extreme views of Sir Thomas Hardy, we were competent to
establish and maintain a blockade in its widest extent, and the best
proof of the fact is, that the blockade was established. Even Zenteno,
the Minister of Marine, pointed out to Sir Thomas Hardy, the ability of
the squadron to maintain the blockade which he recognised.
"Our naval forces, perhaps diminished in apparent magnitude by
distance, was not believed sufficient to maintain the blockade in all
its extent, yet it has had the glory of setting at liberty, and of
placing in the hands of the American Independents, all the ports and
coasts of Peru, excepting only the port of Callao. Moreover, from the
very centre even of that port, and from under the fire of the
batteries, the Spanish ship of war, _Esmeralda_, has been cut out by
our naval forces, and our strength thereby augmented, whilst that
of the enemy is reduced to nothing."
(Signed) "JOSE IGNACIO ZENTENO."
So that, in face of this declaration by the Chilian Minister himself, as
to the naval supremacy of the squadron on the coast of Peru, and its
consequent right of seizure, the Admiralty Court, for its own sinister
purposes, chose to decide that I was liable for seizures of neutral
vessels made by my captains, without my knowledge--condemning me in
costs and damages for their acts; the result being that I was mulcted in
this, and every other charge it saw fit to make in my absence. The
injustice of this was the more striking, as San Martin was appointed
Commander-in-Chief of the squadron as well as the army, so that, even
supposing the decisions of the Admiralty Court to be right, the onus lay
upon him, not me. Yet he was rewarded, and I was compelled to pay for
acts executed under his authority.
In the year 1845, _twenty-three years after_ the liberation of Peru, and
the annihilation of the Spanish power in the Pacific, the Chilian
Government deducted all charges thus unjustly placed to my account, and
awarded me the balance of 30,000 dollars (£.6000) for all the services
rendered to the country. I have before mentioned that, from the
consequence of litigation proceeding from obedience to the orders of the
Chilian Government, I was subjected to a loss in England of nearly
£.25,000; so that in place of my reaping any reward whatever for my
services to Chili and Peru, the liberation of the latter and the
completion of independence of the former cost me £.19,000 out of my own
pocket!
I would ask the Chilian people and Government whether they do not now
see the injurious treatment pursued towards me--arising from the base
impositions then practised upon them, though these have been partly
compensated by the present enlightened Government, which, as its recent
decision has shewn, is composed of men of a far higher stamp than those
with whom I was placed in contact, and, as I have every reason to
believe, would redeem the stigma left on the national character by their
corrupt predecessors of 1820-23, on fully comprehending the treatment to
which I was subjected. That explanation is here truthfully laid before
them, enabling them to judge for themselves. I will only add that not a
single statement has been made in this narrative which is not based on
original documents, the more important of which have been incorporated,
the whole being about to be photographed and sent out to Chili, so that,
comparing them with their official originals, their authenticity shall
be beyond question.
I have said that the ministry which paralysed my operations, and by
their ill-disguised mercenary practices overthrew the Supreme Director,
O'Higgins, was corrupt, though I have thought it beneath the dignity of
historical narrative, more particularly to expose their dishonest
practices, of which I was well apprised. I feel, however, that in making
such a charge, some proof thereof is incumbent on me, I will therefore
in conclusion simply adduce a solitary instance of those practices, so
damning, that, unless supported by irrefutable testimony, I might well
be deemed a malicious libeller for making accusations otherwise utterly
incredible.
It has been proved by the narrative--as indeed it has never been
disputed--that the vigilance of the blockade before Callao starved the
Spanish garrison out of Lima, and ultimately out of the fortress of
Callao, this being the main object of the blockade. Whilst I was thus,
as the only means within my power, endeavouring to starve out the
Spaniards, _the Chilian Ministers were sending corn to be sold, at a
thousand per cent, profit, to the blockaded garrison!_
To such an extent was this carried, that even Gen. San Martin, aware of
the villainy of his pretended supporters in the Chilian ministry, and
dreading the result, put me on my guard by writing to me the following
letter:--
Haura, Feb. 21, 1821.
My esteemed Friend,
I am expecting information from you with great
anxiety, and sincerely hope that it may be as favourable as that
which I received in Ancon when I was in similar uncertainty.
The _Miantinomo_ is on her way from Valparaiso, _by permission of
the Government, to introduce a cargo of corn into Callao! It is most
essential at all risks to avert this mischief, for it would be perfect
ruin to admit such a cargo under existing circumstances!_ I have
officially given you information on this subject.
The day before yesterday the _Andromache_ arrived at Huacho;
Capt. Sherriff tells me that in a few days he shall return to Callao.
Lady Cochrane is at Huaita, making shift in the best way she
can. God give you happiness, my friend. Always count on the
sincere esteem of your affectionate
JOSE DE SAN MARTIN.
This testimony from one whose creatures the more influential of the
Chilian ministers were, is indisputable, but in the present case their
rapacity alarmed even their patron. San Martin is however wrong in
attributing the traitorous attempt to the Government collectively--the
Supreme Director, O'Higgins, not being capable of such practices as were
carried on under his authority--of which this is only one solitary
instance. The real perpetrators of these enormities are fresh in the
recollection of many Chilenos still living. Yet these were the men who,
under the mask of patriotism, originated the most unworthy charges
against me, without giving me the slightest credit for having carried on
the naval war without national assistance either in money or stores. The
present generation of Chilenos are proud of their country, and--as their
present excellent President, when awarding me an admiral's pay for the
remainder of my life has stated--desire to reward those illustrious
foreigners who assisted them in their struggles for independence--but
they have great reason to regret the conduct of those ministers who
imperilled that independence, and jeopardised the liberties of Chili for
private gain.
It is scarcely necessary to add that not a grain of corn in the
_Miantinomo_, or other vessels similarly despatched, with the exception
of one which arrived during my absence, found its way to the starving
garrison of Callao. Yet on their arrival I was implored to permit its
landing, and on replying that no such treachery to the people of Chili
should be carried on before my face, I was coolly asked to stand off
during the night from the blockade, _that I might not see what was going
on!_ Such was ministerial honesty in the first days of Chilian
independence.
The cause of official animosity to me is now apparent. Had I
participated in these nefarious practices, or had I accepted the rank,
decorations, and estates offered to me by San Martin as the price of my
defection from Chili, I should now be rich, however despicable to
myself--in place of having long and severely suffered in consequence of
my rigorous adherence to the national interests--with the proud
consciousness of never having done an act which I desire to conceal.
APPENDIX.
_Recent Address of the President of Chili to the Senate and Chamber of
Deputies, recognising Lord Dundonald's services, and according to him
full pay as Admiral for the remainder of his life._
_Fellow Citizens of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies,_
Towards the end of 1818, when Chili celebrated the first maritime
triumph obtained by our squadron in Talcahuano, the gallant seaman
Thomas Lord Cochrane, now Earl of Dundonald, and an admiral in the
British service, appeared upon our seas, decided to assist the noble
cause of our independence.
The important services of this chief in the British Navy are well known
during the European war which ended in 1815.
He was a post captain, not in active service, when the squadron of his
country was reduced to the peace establishment, and he accepted the
invitation which was made to him in London by the Chilian agent, to
enter the service of this country, and came to take the command of our
naval forces, bringing in the prestige of his name, his great skill and
intelligence, his active and daring spirit,--a powerful contingent to
that struggle of such vital importance for our independence, the
dominion of the Pacific.
In how far the well-founded hopes in the cooperation of Lord Cochrane
were realised by the able direction which he knew how to give to our
maritime forces, are facts which have been judged by the world at large
and history. Still alive in our memory is the taking of Valdivia, the
feats at Callao, the bloody and splendid triumph of the _Esmeralda_, the
taking of the Spanish frigates _Prueba_ and _Venganza_ on the coast of
the Ecuador, and the complete annihilation of the power of Spain in
these seas executed by our squadron under the command of Lord Cochrane;
and this Chief upon leaving the service of Chili in January 1823, and
when he delivered over to Government, when there were no longer any
enemies to contend with, the triumphant insignia of his rank, he might
with justice and truth have said, "I return this into your hands when
Chili has ensured the dominion of the Pacific."
Chili at the same time that she resists unjust and exaggerated
pretensions, has always been proud of her desire to reward, in a
dignified and honourable manner, the services of illustrious foreigners
who have assisted us in the glorious struggle for our independence. This
noble and spontaneous sentiment of national gratitude was what dictated
the law of 6th October, 1842, incorporating, during his life with the
full pay of his rank, General D. Jose San Martin, even when he might
reside in foreign parts; and it is the same sentiment which induces me
to propose to you at present, and with consent of the Council of State,
the following project of law:--
Sole Article.--Vice-Admiral Thomas Lord Cochrane,
now Earl of Dundonald, is to be considered during the term
of his life as in active service of the squadron of the Republic,
with the full pay of his rank, even although he may reside
without the territory of Chili.
Santiago, July 28, 1857.
Manuel Montt.
Jose Francisco Gana.
* * * * *
_Lord Dundonald's reply to the preceding._
_To His Excellency the President in Council and Congress of Chili._
Your Excellency magnanimously presented to Congress
a brief but lucid enumeration of my services to the State, which
being taken into consideration by the enlightened representatives of
a judicious and gallant people, "full pay during my life," and an
honorary medal, were voted to me, accompanied by the truly
gratifying announcement that such estimable gifts were "en
testimonio de gratitud nacional por grandes servicios que prestò a
la Republica durante la guerra de Independencia."
These honours I most thankfully accept, as highly gratifying
proofs that, after the lapse of more than thirty years, my zealous,
official, extra-official, and successful exertions, to ensure to Chili
complete independence, internal peace, and the dominion of the
Pacific, are held in grateful remembrance by the Government and
People of that highly respected nation. Nevertheless I must be
permitted to observe that the grant of full pay, only prospectively,
to one who is upwards of eighty years of age, is little more than
nominal, as my life, in all human probability, is approaching its
close. I had hoped that, as vast benefits have uninterruptedly
accrued to the State, ever since the completion of the services so
honourably recognised, the grant would have dated from that period,
in the same manner that has recently been accorded to me by the
Government of Brazil, which has decreed the restitution of arrears
of pay from the period that my actual command ceased, and also its
continuance during my life.
If my services to Chili be acknowledged to have been great, might
I not expect an equal boon from a country which owes the blessings
of peace and subsequent tranquillity, and consequent prosperity, to
the speedy termination of war? I plead not for myself, most
Excellent Sir, for at my advanced age, I have few wants, but for the
sake of my children and for the honour of my family. I need only
point to the additional examples of Spain and Portugal, where all
general officers and admirals of first rank, employed in the struggle
for the emancipation and independence of those countries, were
rewarded by the subsequent continuance of their pay during their
lives; an engagement ever punctually discharged.
I have no doubt that had the recollection of my advanced age been
present to the mind of your Excellency when you proposed the project
of law in my behalf, and had you remembered that a merely
prospective grant would be of little personal benefit to me or to my
numerous family, your Excellency would have been happy to have
recommended, and the Congress to have conceded, that it should
likewise be retrospective, especially as Chili had not (as is the case
in my native country) to rear and maintain numerous officers for
one found suited to command.
In order to convince your Excellency that I do not desire _full_ pay
to be granted to me during the long period elapsed since my services
were rendered (though from the privations I have suffered and the
losses I have sustained, such delay in truth might be deemed an
additional title), I therefore beg most respectfully to suggest to the
consideration of your Excellency, to that of the Council and National
Congress, as well as to the just feeling of the honourable people of
Chili, that _one half_ of the pay which I received in actual service, be
accorded to me retrospectively, in the same manner that a similar
boon was granted by the Brazilian nation. This I should accept
with deep gratitude, in compensation for the wounds I received this
day thirty-six years, in the capture of the _Esmeralda_, for other
perilous extra-official services rendered, and the heavy
responsibilities incurred, all of which terminated in results most
important to the national cause.
Be assured, most Excellent Sir, that it is only my advanced age
that prevents me from attempting to re-visit your now peaceful and
prosperous country, personally to acknowledge your Excellency's
courtesy, and the kind feeling evinced towards me by the Council of
State, by the representatives, and people of Chili. It would be with
delight that I should see steam vessels now introduced into the
national marine, the great railroad from Valparaiso to Quillotta and
Santiago, now in progress, and witness the various important
improvements accomplished, and advancement in national prosperity
effected in the course of the last third of a century. Such happy
results testify highly to the merits of the Government and to the
character of the Chilian people.
COCHRANE--DUNDONALD.
London, Nov. 5, 1857.
_Letter from the Supreme Director of Chili, approving all I had done in
Peru. This letter was written in English, in which tongue His Excellency
was by no means unversed, having, in early life, had the advantage of a
few years spent at Richmond; a circumstance which, in after years, gave
to his mind an English tone, elevating him far above the then
narrow-minded men by whom, unfortunately for Chili, he was surrounded
and thwarted._
Most secret and confidential.
Santiago, Nov. 12, 1821.
My Dear Friend Lord Cochrane,
Capt. Morgell, the bearer of this, has delivered to
me the despatches sent by you in the _Ceransasee_, together with your
interesting notes, Nos. 1 to 9, dated 10th to 30th of September
last; as also the documents to which they are referred. I have read
them, with great attention, but have always felt just indignation
against the ungrateful course pursued towards Chili, which can only
be tempered by the pleasure which I feel in reading the dignity,
good judgment, and knowledge with which you knew how to sustain
your rights, and those of this Republic.
It was my wish that this reply should not be in writing, but
personally, and with embraces of approbation for all that you have
said and practised under the difficult circumstances detailed in your
private and official letters; but as the great distance in which you
are from this deprives me of this pleasure, and as you expect to add
new glories to Chili in the seizure of the _Prueba_ and _Venganza_, and
to bring them to port Bernardo under your orders, I will hastily
answer the principal points of your communications.
The party and the words you mention, do not leave any doubt of
the small hopes which Chili is to have for its sacrifices; yet there
is nothing to fear from such intentions when discovered. Whilst
the squadron under your orders commands the Pacific, this Republic
is very well covered, and it is in our hands to be the masters of the
moral, political, commercial, and even of the physical force of this
part of America.
* * * * *
Although the battery placed at Ancon _after_ the enemy went away
in tranquillity, and the threat (_from San Martin_,) about not paying
one _real_, unless Chili should sell the squadron to Peru, made it
excusable not to send any mission there; yet I have named my
Minister of Finance, in whom I have the greatest confidence,
to go to Lima to fix the basis of relations, and to ask compensation
for the active debt of Chili against Peru. My Minister has orders
to return as soon as possible, let the end of his mission be what it
will, and by that time you may have returned to Chili, and then
we will accord the ulterior.
It is very painful that the garrison of Callao would not capitulate
under your flag! Then you and Chili would have been implored
for grants,--then all should have been paid without excuse,--and
then you would not have found yourself under the necessity
of taking the property retained, to pay and save the squadron. I
_would have done the same if I had been there, therefore I say again
all has my approbation_, and I give to you, as to the meritorious
officers under your orders, my cordial thanks for their fidelity and
heroism, in favour of Chili, where, in a more glorious and decorous
way, the fortune of all will be made in the course of progress which
events are preparing for this happy country; whilst it is not known
what is to be had in Peru, because, as you observe, the war is only
beginning, which will be followed by poverty, discontent, and above
all, anarchy. They will soon feel the want of you and of the
squadron, and those ungrateful officers who separated themselves
from you to enter the Peruvian navy will also feel their deceit and
punishment. They have been scratched out of the list of the
Chilian navy, and I only wait your arrival or an official detail
relating to the expedition, to assign lands and premiums to those
who have not abandoned you, and in particular to the honourable
Captains Crosbie, Wilkinson, Delano, Cobbet, and Simpson, whom you
recommend.
Although we live in poverty, and the Exchequer continues in
affliction, yet we have sufficient resignation and courage to make
convenient sacrifices. All my efforts shall be employed in making
the _Rising Star_ one of the vessels of our squadron, and then we
shall be invincible, and by keeping good relations with Sir Thomas
Hardy, and by his means with England, we shall establish fundamental
principles to our glories. I am satisfied of the conferences
and deliberations you had with this gentleman, and I approve the
whole, although the Valparaiso merchants might scream.
I like the precautions you have taken in sending correspondence
directly to me, and not to the ministry. But you must
understand that even before I had read your private and official
letters, much of their contents was known to the public, no doubt
by the private communications of some officers, or by what was
verbally communicated in Valparaiso by the officers of the _Aransasu_.
On my part, I also recommend you all necessary secrecy on the
contents of this letter, so that our reserve may not be frustrated,
and our best measures disappointed.
I shall claim from the Lima Government satisfaction for putting
in prison the First Lieutenant of the _O'Higgins_, and also for
imprisoning him of the same class belonging to the _Valdivia_, as
also for the threat of the Ungrateful Guida, as narrated in your
favour of the 29th of September last. I assure you that I will
never permit the least insult against the flag of this Republic. I
felt the greatest pleasure in the answer you gave to Monteagudo
and Guida in your note of the 28th and 29th.
As you have left Callao there is nothing officially to communicate
upon your conduct there. You have not submitted to Lima neither
directly nor indirectly, and from the moment the independence of
that country was declared under the protectoral Government of San
Martin ceased the provisional control that he had upon the
squadron.
The province of Conception is almost free of enemies, and I hope
Chiloe will be so very soon, to accomplish our greatness. There is
a nursery for a good navy, and when you can visit that archipelago
you will discover advantages and richness, relieved from the care of
indolent and despotic Spain.
Believe me, my dear Lord,
Your eternal friend,
O'HIGGINS.