24 INTRODUCTION. 



as Supreme Director of the state, Don Henriquez Lastra*, a man of 

 unquestioned probity and great good sense, though slow in business, 

 then governor of Valparaiso and head of marine, and sending an order 

 to Jose Miguel Carrera to place the command of the army in the hands 

 of Don Bernardo O'Higgins. This order was for some time evaded, 

 but at length complied with about the period when the brothers, 

 Jose Miguel and Luis, were taken prisoners by the royalists and con- 

 fined in Chilian. Meantime the patriots had recovered most of the 

 territory north of the Biobio, and particularly the town of Concep- 

 tion. O'Higgins found the army in a sad state of want, the military 

 chest exhausted, and daily parties were deserting j ; so that he did not 

 refuse to negotiate with the new Spanish general, Gaenza, who had 

 been deputed from the vice-court of Peru, on the death of Pareja. 

 The British captain, Hillier, of His Majesty's ship Phcebe, became 

 guarantee for the performance of the conditions of the peace, the arti- 

 cles of which were signed at Lircae near Talca, on the 3d of May, 1814. 

 It was stipulated that Chile should acknowledge the sovereignty of 

 Ferdinand, at least until his restoration : and, meantime, govern her- 

 self by congress, and enjoy a free trade. Gaenza was bound to give 

 up the Carreras, and with his army to evacuate Chile. But while 

 the commissioners repaired to Lima to submit these articles to the 

 consideration of the viceroy, a new change of affairs placed the 

 Carreras once more at the head of the government. 



The escape of the brothers from Chilian is said to have been 

 managed by a royalist lady, who delivered them from prison, and 

 gave them horses and money to convey them to Santiago. They 

 disguised themselves as peasants ; and early in August arrived at the 

 city, where they went from house to house, and from barrack to 



* Juan Jose Carrera had married Donna Ana Maria de Cotapos, a most beautiful 

 woman, and niece to Don Henriquez Lastra. There had been a family dispute, owing 

 to which Juan Jose had gone to Mendoza while Jose Miguel and Luis remained with 

 the army. 



f The army was so destitute of weapons that the yokes of the oxen were taken and used 

 as clubs. O'Higgins caused a large wooden cannon to be made and bound it round with 

 hide, but it burst after the fourth discharge. 



