48 INTRODUCTION. 
hand, saying, “ Put up your pistol, Mr. Smith, you may make a 
“* more prudent use of it,” and proceeded coolly with the business 
he was about without farther notice of the enraged merchant.* 
About the middle of April, part of the squadron appeared before 
the town of Payta, which the Admiral summoned to surrender. But 
the Spanish governor, although he must have been conscious of his 
want of power to resist, defied the patriots. Lord Cochrane, anxious 
to save bloodshed, sent a second flag of truce, which the Spaniards 
fired upon, and his lordship therefore landed some troops and _ his 
marines, and the town was almost instantly taken, together with the 
schooner Sacramento, three brass eighteen pound guns, two field 
pieces, a quantity of ammunition, sugar, cotton, cocoa, pitch, &c. 
Some of the marines having stolen some of the church ornaments, 
the Admiral caused them to be restored, and punished the offenders, 
besides sending to the chief priest a thousand dollars to repair the 
mischief done to the sacred edifices.t About the same time a rich 
prize, the fleet of Guayaquil, escaped owing to the caution given to 
it by an American vessel. 
While Lord Cochrane was engaged in this expedition to the 
northward, Admiral Blanco was maintaining the blockade of Callao 
with the San Martin, Lautaro, Chacabuco, and Pueyrredon, which 
was continued till the beginning of May, when the squadron re- 
turned to Chile amidst the congratulations of all ranks of people. t 
There was indeed cause for exultation. During the first month the 
Chilian squadron consisted only of the 
O’ Higgins, - 48 guns 
Lautaro, : - 38 
* See the Gazette extraordinary of 2d August, 1819, by which it appears that Mr. 
Smith had forfeited his claim to be considered as a neutral merchant, having entered 
warmly into the service of the Viceroy, conducting his dispatches, and carrying his officers 
from port to port, all which services the Viceroy acknowledges in his public letters. 
+ See Gazette extraordinary of August 9. 1819. 
¢ Admiral Blanco was put under arrest on his arrival at Valparaiso, on the 26th May, 
for having raised the blockade, though the ships were in want of provisions. A court- 
martial, of which Lord Cochrane was president, and Jonte judge-advocate, acquitted him 
honourably on the 22d of July. 
, 
