80 INTRODUCTION. 



to have been a renewal of that hostile spirit, which at Valparaiso had 

 instigated the contemptuous and insolent behaviour towards the 

 admiral, that disgraced him before the sailing of the expedition, but 

 which subsequent events seemed to have obliterated from the minds 

 of both. Captain Spry was a low-minded man, and, perhaps, even 

 then had in contemplation that treachery for which he was not long 

 afterwards so liberally rewarded. His cunning had obtained great 

 influence over Captain Guise, and he is believed to have been his 

 chief adviser. 



The next occurrence worthy of notice is the second taking of Pisco. 

 That wretched place, after having been forced to maintain the patriot 

 army for fifty days, had again fallen into the hands of the Spaniards 

 who had severely punished the defection of the inhabitants. It was 

 retaken by 500 patriots, under Colonel Miller, on the 22d of March, 

 who collected the first day 300 horses for the use of the army, and as 

 many oxen, sheep, and mules. Lord Cochrane, who had accompanied 

 this little expedition, hoisted his flag on the 18th on board the San 

 Martin, leaving the O'Higgins and Valdivia to protect the troops at 

 Pisco, and returned to Callao, where he again attacked the gun-boats 

 with effect. Meanwhile General Arenales had obtained another 

 decided advantage over General Ricaforte and 2000 men. 



Early in May a vigorous attack was made on Arica* ; but the land- 

 ing-place being strongly fortified, the troops disembarked a little to 

 the northward, and after the town had been bombarded for five days 

 the Spaniards left it; and a considerable booty, besides 120,000 

 dollars in money was collected. These successes of the patriots 

 induced the new viceroy to propose an armistice for three weeks to 

 General San Martin, who gladly accepted it as the forerunner, it was 

 hoped, of a pacific termination to a campaign wearisome to the 



* Arica, the capital of a province of the name, is the southernmost port of Peru. The 

 mines of gold and of copper are extremely rich, but the want of water in their district, and 

 indeed in the whole province, is an obstacle to working them properly. The valley 

 behind the town is fertile, and produces an immense quantity of red pepper. The town 

 has suffered severely from earthquakes, and in 1680, it was sacked by the notorious 

 Captain Sharpe, from which misfortune it never entirely recovered. There is a great 

 volcano in the eastern part of the province, from the side of which flows hot fetid water. 



