44 INTRODUCTION. 



Cochrane's flag-ship, commanded by Captain Forster, the Lautaro ; 

 Captain Guise ; the San Martin, Captain Wilkinson ; and the Chaca- 

 buco, Captain Carter. * These ships sailed from Valparaiso under 

 Lord Cochrane's command, on the 15th of January. Most anxiously 

 did the people of Chile look upon this expedition. It was the first 

 time they had dared to attack the enemy in his own strong-hold. 

 Callao had always been deemed inexpugnable, and the ships of 

 Spain had been accustomed to consider it as an inviolable sanctuary. 

 Now the Chilenos saw their ships sailing to attack it, and a feeling 

 of dread at the daring mingled with their hopes. Their own port 

 had been blockaded "but a few months before, and all their wishes had 

 then been confined to being freed from the enemy's ships. But 

 they had changed situations ; theirs was now to be the inviolable port, 

 and their ships were to attack the strong-hold of the enemy. 



No wonder that every report was eagerly listened to, and that a 

 stranger sail giving flattering news of their squadron was eagerly 

 received ; at length, however, true despatches arrived, and they were 

 published in a series of extraordinary gazettes, as the most important 

 documents that had ever reached Chile. The fleet had been prin- 

 cipally manned with natives, many of whom were wild from the 

 mountains : the whole squadron might have on board 300 foreign 

 seamen, including officers ; so that there was ground for anxiety on 

 more than one account concerning the expedition. But the very 

 first trial was sufficient to prove that the navy of Chile would in a 

 short time have the dominion of the Pacific. 



The squadron had fallen in with several vessels ; and from the 

 information obtained from them, the admiral had determined to 

 cruize off Lima until the 21st of February, to intercept the San An- 

 tonio, which was bound for Cadiz with a considerable treasure on 

 board ; and then, on the 23d, the last day of the Carnival, to run into 

 the bay with the Lautaro, and attack the ships and forts during the 

 confusion usually occasioned by that festival, f The San Martin 



* There were also the Galvarino, Araucano, and Pueyrredon. 



f The reason (said to be so by some) for running in with only two ships, and those 



