INTRODUCTION. 72 



" been offered in Lima to those who shall capture any vessel of the 

 " Chilian squadron.* The moment of glory approaches : I trust 

 " that the Chilenos will fight as they have done hitherto, and that 

 " the English will do as they always have done, both in their own 

 " country and elsewhere. 



" Cochrane." 



" On board the 0'Higgins f 

 " Nov. 5th, 1820. 



The whole of the marines and seamen of the 0'Higgins,Lautaro,and 

 Independencia, volunteered for the service, but 240 only were accepted ; 

 and at eight o'clock in the evening all the boats, fourteen in number, 

 assembled alongside of the O'Higgins, with their crews dressed in 

 white, and each armed with a cutlass and pistol. The first division 

 of boats was intrusted to Captain Crosbie, the second to Captain 

 Guise; and, at 10 o'clock, Lord Cochrane, having given a few orders 

 enjoining strict silence and the exclusive use of swords, got into his 

 boat and pulled directly for Callao. They were first challenged by 

 one of the gun-boats astern of the Esmeralda, when Lord Cochrane, 

 rising in the boat and drawing his sword, said in an under tone, 

 " Silencio o Muerte !" and was obeyed. He demanded the sign 

 and countersign of the night. Victoria — Gloria ; a good omen, 

 and they passed on unmolested. In a few minutes the boats were 

 alongside of the frigate, the starboard and larboard side being boarded 

 at once. Lord Cochrane was the first man on board, and was shot 

 immediately, through the flesh of the right-thigh just above the 

 knee ; but, having first seized the sentinel who fired at him by the 

 heel and thrown him overboard, he seated himself on the hammock- 

 netting and continued to give his orders. Meantime the Spaniards 

 had retreated to the forecastle, .and seemed resolved to defend their 

 post. Twice did Captains Guise and Crosbie charge along the gang- 



* The sum of 50,000 dollars having been offered by the Spaniards for a Chileno frigate, 

 the same sum was levied on them on the fall of Lima, as if for the captors of the Esme- 

 ralda ; but the money was appropriated by San Martin, and neither that nor the value of 

 the vessel ever paid. 



