INTRODUCTION. 73 
witnessed so bold a design so ably executed. But who ever pos- 
sessed, like- him, the quick eye to perceive every advantage; the 
resolute spirit to undertake; and, above all, the perfect self-posses- 
sion, in every situation, that is necessary to accomplish great actions! 
The secrecy with which this blow was planned, and the suddenness 
of the execution, secure to Lord Cochrane the double praise of the 
politician and the warrior. “ For the helmet of Pluto,” says Lord 
Bacon, “ which maketh the politic man to go invisible, is secrecy in 
“ the council and celerity in the execution ; there is no secrecy com- 
“‘ parable to celerity ; like the motion of a bullet in the air, which 
“ flyeth so swift as it outruns the eye.” 
Coriolanus, when his country was ungrateful, went and commanded 
the armies of her enemies and revenged himself. Alcibiades fled to 
a tyrant’s court, and disgraced the land he had left by his excesses; 
and most of those who have been obliged to “ teach them other 
tongues, and to become no strangers to strange eyes,” have followed 
either the one example or the other. But Lord Cochrane, when he 
left his beloved home, refused the splendid offers of a court, because 
he could not fight against the principles of his country, but went to 
a remote and feeble nation and employed his talents in assisting the 
sacred cause of national independence. And though, as all things 
sublunary are imperfect, Chile is still far from enjoying all the ad- 
vantages that she should derive from that blessing for which he 
fought, — his part was done: the fleets of the oppressors were driven 
from the shores of the Pacific; and some principles established, and 
some seeds of future good were sown, that will immortalise him as a 
benefactor to mankind as well as a hero—things too often, alas! 
so widely different. But to return to our narrative. 
On the morning of the 6th, a horrible massacre was committed 
chiefly by the women of Callao on the boats’ crews of the Mace- 
donia. It was not believed that Lord Cochrane with boats alone 
could have cut out the Esmeralda without the assistance of the 
English ships ; and, as the people could not distinguish between the 
English and North Americans, they fell on the boats’ crews that had 
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