60 INTRODUCTION. 
the Spaniards had still a strong position, under an able and deter- 
mined officer, Colonel Quintanilla. The account of that expedition 
is best given in His Lordship’s own letter addressed to the Minister 
of Marine: — 
“ Sir, 
“ The unfortunate circumstance, of the running ashore of the brig 
Intrepid, on the day I last had the honour of addressing Your Excel- 
lency, and her total loss in this port without either wind or storm, 
owing to her being quite rotten, deprived me of the greater part of 
the force and means for taking Chiloe. Nevertheless, I determined 
to proceed with the schooner Montezuma, and the transport Dolores, 
Captain Carter of the Intrepid having volunteered to command the 
latter, in order to reconnoitre the port of San Carlos, and to offer the 
inhabitants such assistance as was in my power, if they showed an 
inclination to shake off the yoke of Ferdinand. 
« With this purpose we landed in the bay of Huechucucuy in the 
evening of the 17th. The soldiers, with the marines of the O’Hig- 
gins and Intrepid, took possession of the three outer batteries which 
defend the port, dislodging about thirty foot and sixty horse; but 
having afterwards lost their way, owing to the darkness of the night, 
in roads almost impassable, they halted till dawn, by which time 
the militia headed by the friars, armed with lances or whatever wea- 
pons they could get, had assembled in such numbers in the fort of 
Aguy, that it rendered the taking of that strong hold with so small 
an attacking force impossible. ‘The brave Col. Miller being severely 
wounded, Captain Erezcano of Buenos Ayres, agreeably to my in- 
structions not to engage the troops farther, caused them to retreat 
and go on board. 
«* Having re-embarked them, I resolved to return to Valdivia, con- 
ceiving that the securing that place and expelling the enemy from 
the province were more important objects than even the establishing 
a garrison in Chiloe. 
“ T ought to add, that the outer defence of San Carlos was entirely 
