82 INTRODUCTION. 



had passed the time since his arrival on the coast of Peru in total 

 inactivity, and although the capital had been reduced by famine 

 occasioned by the exertions of the squadron, aided by the civil dis- 

 sensions naturally arising from great private distress, yet he takes on 

 himself the style and title of a conqueror, and, to read his official 

 papers, one might think he had won the city by hard fighting. 

 Callao, however, held out, though it was reduced to still greater 

 straits by the occupation of Lima. The squadron continued to 

 attack the forts and gun-boats on every opportunity ; and on the 

 24th, Lord Cochrane, having observed an opening in the chain which 

 secured the vessels, sent in Captain Crosbie with the small boats of 

 the squadron that night, who brought out the San Fernando, Milagro, 

 and Resolution, ships of war, besides several boats and launches, and 

 burned two other vessels. A few days before, the squadron had 

 suffered a severe loss in the San Martin which was wrecked at the 

 Chorillas, having gone thither with corn to be sold to the poor at a 

 low rate on the 15th July, and was totally lost on the 16th. * 



But the exultation and ferment occasioned by the attainment of the 

 grand prize for which all the exertions of Chile had been made, 

 occupied all tongues and all eyes. On the 28th the independence of 

 Peru was solemnly sworn to ; but an incident happened that very 

 night, which, like the sitting of Mordecai the Jew in the king's gate, 

 poisoned the enjoyment of San Martin. Being at the theatre with 

 Lord Cochrane, the people received them with the loudest acclam- 

 ations : they gave San Martin all the epithets and titles that could 

 gratify him, except that of brave, which they constantly coupled 

 with Lord Cochrane's name ; an invidious distinction which he com- 

 plained of to His Lordship on leaving the theatre, who generously 

 made light of it, and applying the words addressed by Cromwell to 

 Lambert, which Lambert afterwards recollected as a prophecy, he 

 said,f " General, they are only old Spaniards, who would shout in the 



* This was prize corn belonging to the squadron, who cheerfully gave it up at the sug- 

 gestion of San Martin, who took all the credit of the timely supply, while it was literally 

 given by the ships. See the Gazettes and Proclamations of that date. 



f Bishop Burnet's history of his own times. 



