84 INTRODUCTION. 
former promises*, he tells the Peruvians that his ten years’ experience 
of revolutions had proved to him the dangers of assembling con- 
gresses while the enemy still had footing in the country; and that 
therefore, till the Spanish forces were entirely driven out, he should 
direct the affairs of Peru, though he sighed for a private station. 
He named Garcia del Rio his minister for foreign affairs, Bernardo 
Monteagado, minister of war and marine, and Torre Tagle that of 
finance. The despotism was absolute: all old laws were annulled, 
but nothing was substituted in their room but the protector’s own 
will; and it was not long before that will displayed itself in acts 
for which nothing can account but the intoxication occasioned by 
absolute power. 
No time was lost in transmitting the tidings of these transactions 
to the director of Chile; and perhaps San Martin thought, that by 
sending him the four flags which Osorio had taken at Rancagua, and 
which were found in the cathedral at Lima, he made up for that 
breach of his oaths of fidelity to Chile and its government, which he 
had now virtually committed by declaring himself an independent 
chief. + 
Nor was this the only injury he meditated against the country he 
had left. The squadron had now been a year in constant activity ; 
scantily supplied at first with rigging and sails, and provisioned only 
for a few weeks, nothing could have maintained it, but the good 
conduct of the officers generally, and the activity and vigilance of 
its commander. Sometimes making use of the powers given him to 
commute custom-house duties into supplies for the fleet ; or, accord- 
* See Appendix, for San Martin’s proclamation before the squadron sailed from Chile. 
+ This seems indeed to have produced great effect on the director, who, in his circular 
letter published in the Gazette on the 25th August, 1821, congratulating the country on the 
success of the army and squadron, and on the acquisition of a sister republic, dwells at great 
length on the restoration of the flags in question. On the 30th of September they were 
sent in solemn procession, under an escort, to Rancagua, and delivered to the municipality, 
with a proclamation from the director. On the 2d of October, the anniversary of the 
unfortunate rout of Rancagua, they were conveyed to the altar of N.S, da Carmen, the 
protectress of the arms of Chile, and consecrated. The city presented a scene of festivity 
for several days. 
