POSTSCRIPT. 3gg 



" destined for its defence, and made us responsible. On perceiving 

 " that without establishing a central junta, the chief, who called him- 

 " self the general of a province independent de facto, transported 

 * thither the troops of Santiago ; on observing that officers were re- 

 " moved, and others named, without consulting the junta, and even 

 " against its will ; — it made such representations as appeared suitable 

 " to its duty and its dignity. The ministers of state will lay before 

 " you the correspondence that took place between General Freire 

 " and the various public offices : in it you will find that the General 

 " had declared solemnly and formally, that neither he nor the army 

 " are subject to the junta ; and that he does not acknowledge in it any 

 " authority whatever over the military, the sole, independent, and 

 " exclusive command of which belongs to himself: in it you will 

 " also observe, that on this account the preparations for sending 

 " troops to the immediate assistance of Peru were suspended; an 

 " evil which, among the many existing, has not been the least that 

 " has harassed the better days of our administration. 



" If the junta has not been able to preserve strict harmony with 

 " General Freire, we strongly recommend to you, Gentlemen, to en- 

 " deavour to accomplish that desirable end : do not forget that he is 

 " the only man who can save the country, — and rely on his disin- 

 " terestedness. Call him to your bosom, and may you be happier 

 " than we, in inspiring him with confidence, and erasing impres- 

 " sions which savour of provincialism and dangerous principles ! Let 

 " not the evil-minded, or those who are led by personal interest, or 

 " the giddy and the weak, triumph, and tear away the laurels of peace 

 " destined for the citizen who shall restore his country, oppressed 

 " by internal grievances, to prosperity. 



" If General Freire, by keeping the independent command of the 

 " army, sought to avoid the horrors of civil war, the necessary con- 

 " sequence of anarchy ; if his object was to prevent the dissolution of 

 " the army ; if, with all the forces of the republic at his disposal, he 

 " sought to preserve his influence and dignity, only in order that he 

 " might place himself in a situation to procure the immeasurable be- 



3 b 



