48 INTRODUCTION. 



band, saying, " Put up your pistol, Mr. Smith, you may make a 

 " more prudent use of it," and proceeded coolly with the business 

 he was about without farther notice of the enraged merchant.* 



About the middle of April, part of the squadron appeared before 

 the town of Payta, which the Admiral summoned to surrender. But 

 the Spanish governor, although he must have been conscious of his 

 want of power to resist, defied the patriots. Lord Cochrane, anxious 

 to save bloodshed, sent a second flag of truce, which the Spaniards 

 fired upon, and his lordship therefore landed some troops and his 

 marines, and the town was almost instantly taken, together with the 

 schooner Sacramento, three brass eighteen pound guns, two field 

 pieces, a quantity of ammunition, sugar, cotton, cocoa, pitch, &c. 

 Some of the marines having stolen some of the church ornaments, 

 the Admiral caused them to be restored, and punished the offenders, 

 besides sending to the chief priest a thousand dollars to repair the 

 mischief done to the sacred edifices. f About the same time a rich 

 prize, the fleet of Guayaquil, escaped owing to the caution given to 

 it by an American vessel. 



While Lord Cochrane was engaged in this expedition to the 

 northward, Admiral Blanco was maintaining the blockade of Callao 

 with the San Martin, Lautaro, Chacabuco, and Pueyrredon, which 

 was continued till the beginning of May, when the squadron re- 

 turned to Chile amidst the congratulations of all ranks of people. % 

 There was indeed cause for exultation. During the first month the 

 Chilian squadron consisted only of the 



O'Higgins, - 48 guns 



Lautaro, - - 38 



* See the Gazette extraordinary of 2d August, 1819, by which it appears that Mr. 

 Smith had forfeited his claim to be considered as a neutral merchant, having entered 

 warmlv into the service of the Viceroy, conducting his dispatches, and carrying his officers 

 from port to port, all which services the Viceroy acknowledges in his public letters. 



f See Gazette extraordinary of August 9. 1819. 



| Admiral Blanco was put under arrest on his arrival at Valparaiso, on the 26th May, 

 for having raised the blockade, though the ships were in want of provisions. A court- 

 martial, of which Lord Cochrane was president, and Jonte judge-advocate, acquitted him 

 honourably on the 22d of July. 



