INTRODUCTION. 45 
was to remain behind the island of San Lorenzo, to act according to 
circumstances. But, on the 21st, so thick a fog came on that the 
ships lost sight of each other: it continued for four days, so that 
the plan for the 23d was frustrated. On the 26th it cleared a little, 
and the San Martin took the Victoria, laden with provisions from 
Chiloe to Lima; but the fogs which are so common on the coast of 
Peru still rendered it impossible for the squadron to act until the 29th, 
when a heavy firing was heard, which the admiral imagined was one of 
his ships engaging the enemy ; he therefore stood towards the bay of 
Callao. The San Martin, Lautaro, and Chacabuco, who each imagined 
the admiral in action, steered the same way ; and, just as the fog cleared 
away for a moment, they discovered one another. ‘That moment of 
light had also discovered a strange sail among them ; the O’ Higgins 
followed and took her: she was a gun-boat, having on board a lieu- 
tenant and 20 men, one 24 pounder, and two pedreros. The admi- 
ral learned from the gun-boat, that the firing heard in the morning 
was in honour of the viceroy, who was visiting the forts and ships. 
Lord Cochrane, sure that some of his ships had been seen, determined 
to run into Callao, both to try his ship’s company, and to endeavour 
to capture some vessel of war, or at least some of the gun-boats ; 
the Lautaro followed him closely. They found the enemy’s ships 
arranged in a half-moon of two ranks, the rear rank so disposed as 
to cover the intervals between the ships of the front rank ; the mer-. 
chant vessels were stationed in the rear, and the neutrals were 
anchored on the right. The O’Higgins had neutral colours* : but it: 
was of little consequence. At four o’clock in the afternoon, the 
Esmeralda began to fire on the two ships; her fire was immediately 
followed by that of the whole line of Spanish ships, and of the 
batteries. Unfortunately Captain Guise was severely wounded early, 
and his ship retired from action. Neither the San Martin nor 
under English colours, was, that they had information that two English ships were 
expected in Lima. 
* The O’Higgins and Lautaro had both been painted to resemble ships of War of the 
United States. 
