100 INTRODUCTION. 



of all kinds abounds there, and there were many excellent artificers. 

 The government countenanced and encouraged all his proceedings. 

 Public entertainments were given by both parties, and the most 

 friendly intercourse was kept up. 



The expenses of all the repairs, as well as of revictualling the ships, 

 were defrayed by His Lordship, out of money that he had on board 

 belonging to himself and the squadron : they willingly applied it in 

 that way, trusting to be reimbursed by the government of Chile ; and 

 they were too eager to accomplish their object of lowering the last 

 Spanish flags flying in the Pacific to brook any delay. 



The artificers wrought so diligently, that by the 20th of November 

 the ships were ready for sea. On Lord Cochrane's departure, the 

 people of Guayaquil complimented him with a poem in his honour, 

 illuminated with gold letters, and placed under a glass in an ebony 

 frame. His Lordship returned the compliment by an address to the 

 people of Guayaquil, which is as follows : — 



" To the worthy and independent Inhabitants of Guayaquil. 



" The reception that the squadron of Chile has met with from you, 

 not only shows the generous sentiments of your hearts, but proves, if 

 such proof were necessary, that a people capable of asserting its inde- 

 pendence in spite of arbitrary power, must always possess noble and 

 exalted feelings. Believe me, that the state of Chile will be for ever 

 grateful for your assistance ; and more particularly the Supreme 

 Director, by whose exertions the squadron was created, and to whom, 

 in fact, South America owes whatever benefit she may have derived 

 from it. 



" May you be as free as you are independent ! and may you be as 

 independent as you deserve to be free ! With the liberty of the press, 

 which is now protected by your enlightened government, which has 

 derived its extensive knowledge from that fount, Guayaquil can never 

 be enslaved. 



