38 



INTRODUCTION. 



was master of an American privateer during the last war, and who 

 went to Chile on mercantile speculation ; the 20 gun corvette, 

 Chacabuco, under Don Francisco Diaz, an artillery officer, and an 

 old Spaniard ; the brig Araucana, 1 8 guns, Captain Morris ; and the 

 Pueyrredon, Captain Vasquez. On the 28th of the same month, 

 the squadron discovered the Maria Isabella and transports in Tal- 

 cahuana bay, under the guns of the fort, which contained four field- 

 pieces, four one pounders, and three other guns of the same calibre. 

 But with these it could do little or nothing to annoy the ships. The 

 Maria Isabella and the transports were in a dreadful state — one- 

 third of the crews and soldiers having died on the passage, partly 

 because too many men had been put on board in proportion to the 

 tonnage of the vessels, — partly from the want of ventilation and 

 cleanliness in the ships during so long a voyage ; and the crew, of 

 the Spanish frigate, after landing her sick, was reduced to 200 men 

 at the most. Such was the condition of the adverse ships when 

 the patriots, having about 1000 men, arrived in the bay. The 

 Spaniards made a defence creditable to themselves, and when ob- 

 liged to strike, the Maria Isabella ran ashore under the batteries, 

 which endeavoured to protect her, but they were too weak for the 

 purpose, and she was got off the day after. This was a real subject 

 of triumph for the people of Chile. They had not only reduced 

 the enemy's power, but they had gained a ship for their own squadron 

 second to none of her class, an admirable sailer, and provided amply 

 with all kinds of stores. .Meantime the Buenos Ay res brig of 

 war, Intrepid, had come round the Horn to assist the Chileno 

 squadron, but did not arrive until the 11th of November, on which 

 day, one of the transports, on her way to Lima, was captured ; 

 and before the ships reached Valparaiso, the Helena, another be- 

 longing to the same convoy, was seized. Of the nine that sailed 

 from Cadiz, one, the Trinidad, went to Buenos Ayres, seven were 

 captured by the Chilenos, and one was never heard of. Never 

 had a fleet been so welcome to Chile as was the return of the 

 squadron from the south on the 17th of November: it gave a 



