24 INTRODUCTION. 
as Supreme Director of the state, Don Henriquez Lastra *, a man of 
unquestioned probity and great good sense, though slow in business, 
then governor of Valparaiso and head of marine, and sending an order 
to Jose Miguel Carrera to place the command of the army in the hands 
of Don Bernardo O’Higgins. This order was for some time evaded, 
but at length complied with about the period when the brothers, 
Jose Miguel and Luis, were taken prisoners by the royalists and con- 
fined in Chillan. Meantime the patriots had recovered most of the 
territory north of the Biobio, and particularly the town of Concep- 
tion. O’Higgins found the army in a sad state of want, the military 
chest exhausted, and daily parties were deserting { ; so that he did not 
refuse to negotiate with the new Spanish general, Gaenza, who had 
been deputed from the vice-court of Peru, on the death of Pareja. 
The British captain, Hillier, of His Majesty’s ship Phoebe, became 
guarantee for the performance of the conditions of the peace, the arti- 
cles of which were signed at Lircae near Talca, on the 3d of May, 1814. 
It was stipulated that Chile should acknowledge the sovereignty of 
Ferdinand, at least until his restoration: and, meantime, govern her- 
self by congress, and enjoy a free trade. Gaenza was bound to give 
up the Carreras, and with his army to evacuate Chile. But while 
the commissioners repaired to Lima to submit these articles to the 
consideration of the viceroy, a new change of affairs placed the 
Carreras once more at the head of the government. 
The escape of the brothers from Chillan is said to have been 
managed by a royalist lady, who delivered them from prison, and 
gave them horses and money to convey them to Santiago. They 
disguised themselves as peasants ; and early in August arrived at the 
city, where they went from house to house, and from barrack to 
* Juan Jose Carrera had married Donna Ana Maria de Cotapos, a most beautiful 
woman, and niece to Don Henriquez Lastra. There had been a family dispute, owing 
to which Juan Jose had gone to Mendoza while Jose Miguel and Luis remained with 
the army. 
+ The army was so destitute of weapons that the yokes of the oxen were taken and used 
as clubs. ; O’ Higgins caused a large wooden cannon to be made and bound it round with 
hide, but it burst after the fourth discharge. 
