560 Politicai Ajffairs in June. [Jijly I, 



man, arc said to he piisoiipis, ami it is im- San Mart in conceived It to tie his dtity to 



•ilerstood that tlip otiicn' seven were killed, abandon tlie Spanish servire in wliicli lie 



.either in the action, or after they were had so often fonfjlit and distiiij^nislied hiai- 



taken prisoners. self, and repaired to T.uf nos Ayres, to lend 



About two o'clock on the 28th of Ja- his arm to throw off the Spanisli yoke, 

 nuary, (says Major Ricketts,) the Ashan- During twelve years, the eiiorts of Gene- 

 tees, 10,000 in number, marched np to the ral San Martin to establish the indopend- 

 opposite bank of the river, when the action ence in that country were unremitting and 

 commenced immediately, with determined successful. The passage of the Andes, in 

 vigour on both sides, and lasted till nearly which nature herself was vanquished by 

 half past four oclock; it was reported be- the genins of man ; the battles of Cliaca- 

 fore four o'clock that the regulars, volun- buco and Maipo, in which the Spanish 

 teers, and militia, had no ammunition left, power in Chili was put down never to rise 

 only twenty poands per man having been again; the bold attempt to wrench from 

 issued to them, on which I immediately the grasp of tyranny the laiwl of the Incas 

 went to the ordnance storekeeper, Mr. with a handful of men ; the brilliant and 

 Brandon, who had received his excellency's uninterrupted success that ?rowned Gene- 

 positive orders alv;ays to have forty ral San Martin on that memorable cam- 

 rounds for each man, packed np in kegs, paign, until he thought it advisable to re- 

 and which was always to accompany him, tire from the direction of public affairs; 

 but he acquainted me that he had only all these achievements of General San 

 with him one small keg of ball and one of Martin are already recorded in the tablets 

 Jjowder, which was immediately issued to of time by impartial history , and will carry 

 the men, but which, it may be supposed, down his name to future jienerations, co- 

 did not last long. The enemy, perceiving vered with glory and immortaiity. But it 

 that onr fire had become slacker, attempt- is not only as a warrior that General San 

 ed to cross the river, and succeeded; they Martin is entitled to the respect and 

 had frequently attempted the same thing admiration of men ; he has shewn himself 

 before, but wtre repulsed with great an enlightened statesman and a virtuouit 

 slaughter; they at the same time sent a citizen. During the .sliort sp>iec he was at 

 Very considerable force round our flanks, the head of public atiairs ni Vern, siir- 

 to cut off our retreat, which they com- rounded as he was by dangers and difli- 

 pletely succeeded in doing, (roin their sn- culties, he devoted his attention to such 

 perior numbers; the whole now became one measures as might improve the condition 

 .scene of confusion, the enemy having in- of the people. Well aware of the salutary 

 terniixed withns; after which I saw no intlueuce exercised by thr.t |)oweilul arm 

 more of his excellency. The people took of civilization, which so a;>propriately was 

 different directions, and a number of the called the arlillery of thought, General 

 wonnded men followed me into the thickest San Martin pioclaimed the free<lom of the 

 parts of the woods, through which, with press. He also healed two of the deepest 

 the assistance of a Wassawman, who under- wounds hinnanity ever suiVered ; he ame- 

 •took, for a reward, to guide ns, v\e travel- IJorated the condition of the indigenous 

 led the whole of that night, and half the rare, and abolished that shocking and in- 

 next day, frequently going a considerable famous trade in human blood under the 

 distance through a stream of water, for denomination of the Slave Trade." 

 the purpose of hiding our track. In a ntat and appropriate speech, ths 



The returns state that Capt. Heddle, gciieral, in Spanisli, letunied thanks: — 



Royal Cape Coast Militia, was killed in He was naturally fond of peace, and it 



the action. The following officers are was his most anxious and cordial wish that 



returned as missing, and supposed to have the tranquillity of South America might 



been killed : — Brig.-gen. Sir C. M'Carthy, not be disturbed ; he flallered himself that 



Ensign Wetherill, Dr.Tedlie,T.S. Buckle, the court of Madrid would relax in its 



esq, Capts. Jones, Raydon, and Robert- niad pretensions, and see tlie advantage of 



son, and Mr. Brandon, acting ordnance living: on terms of harmony with a country 



storekeeper. Capt. Ricketts and Ensign that had now for ever escaped from its 



Erskine, slightly wounded , 90 men wound- gra'^p, and that this would also be the 



ed, and 177 supposed to have been killed policy of the other cabinets of Europe ; 



or lost in the woods. but, added he, in the most emphatic 



• A« o rii.ii^o- ^;,.n,i ir^ r-o.,^..^! c„.. Words, should war in any shape be carried 



At a dinner given to General ban . . .i ,i ii t Ji i .i 



M.. ,, , P„ • • 1- to our coasts, tliMlier will I tiy, and there 



artin, the chairman, in proposing his .^^ j j^,, ,; .,,^,^ j,,^ ,^,t l^\ ^^- 



lieallh, spoke ofinm as (olio ws:- ^j^oJ i„ \iefeuce of that just freedom 



"No sooner had the voice of liberty, „,,i(.,, „.(, j^^ve aheadv proved to the 



raised oil t^e hanks of the nyer Plate, re- ,,-0^,^ „.^. ^a„ both earn and enjoy. 

 echoed m the Pennisusa, than Geneiai 



INCIDENTS, 



