INTRODUCTION. 109 



Rio and Paroissien had laid their file of accusations against Lord 

 Cochrane before the government of Chile, and had demanded signal 

 vengeance on him in their employer's name. It sets the character 

 and conduct of San Martin in a light sO odious as to gain full credit to 

 the idea, that he was the instigator of two attempts to assassinate the 

 admiral about this time, made by persons who contrived to get on 

 board the ship by stealth. One of these was an Englishman, who had 

 been for some time confined in the prison at Callao for murder of 

 an atrocious kind, and who was suddenly liberated, no one knew how 

 or why. This wretch, on being detected lurking about the ship, could 

 give no account of himself or his business ; and it was only known 

 that he was protected by San Martin. That Monteagudo should be 

 the willino- agent in a scheme for trepanning Lord Cochrane for the 

 purpose of destroying him, no one who knows his character can 

 doubt ; and that both he and San Martin should use courteous pro- 

 mises to lure him ashore for the better and surer accomplishment of 

 their vengeance, those will believe who remember the fate of the pri- 

 soners of war who carried letters of recommendation to the governor 

 of San Luis, desiring they might be treated with every courtesy and 

 distinction, and feasted three or four days ; but that care was to be 

 taken they did not pass a certain wood ; and in that wood several, 

 one of whom was Col. Rodrigues, have disappeared, nor ever have 

 they been heard of since. 



Lord Cochrane remained before Callao until the 9th of May : he 

 claimed, though in vain, the arrears of pay and prize-money due by 

 the Peruvian government to the Chileno fleet, and such stores and 

 provisions as were necessary. — The fear that possessed San Martin 

 during the time of the admiral's stay was ludicrous. He caused the 

 Prueba to be surrounded with booms and chains. Men were so 

 crowded into her that she could scarcely contain them every night, 

 and every thing was done to prevent a fate similar to that of the 

 Esmeralda ; but His Lordship is said to have sent word he did not 

 mean to take her, otherwise he would do it in spite of all precautions, 

 and that in midday too. 



