INTRODUCTION. 109 
Rio and Paroissien had laid their file of accusations against Lord 
Cochrane before the government of Chile, and had demanded signal 
vengeance on him in their employer’s name. It sets the character 
and conduct of San Martin in a light so odious as to gain full credit to 
the idea, that he was the instigator of two attempts to assassinate the 
admiral about this time, made by persons who contrived to get on 
board the ship by stealth. One of these was an Englishman, who had 
been for some time confined in the prison at Callao for murder of 
an atrocious kind, and who was suddenly liberated, no one knew how 
or why. This wretch, on being detected lurking about the ship, could 
give no account of himself or his business; and it was only known 
that he was protected by San Martin. That Monteagudo should be 
the willing agent in a scheme for trepanning Lord Cochrane for the 
purpose of destroying him, no one who knows his character can 
doubt ; and that both he and San Martin should use courteous pro- 
mises to lure him ashore for the better and surer accomplishment of 
their vengeance, those will believe who remember the fate of the pri- 
soners of war who carried letters of recommendation to the governor 
‘of San Luis, desiring they might be treated with every courtesy and 
distinction, and feasted three or four days; but that care was to be 
taken they did not pass a certain wood; and in that wood several, 
one of whom was Col. Rodrigues, have disappeared, nor ever have 
they been heard of since. 
Lord Cochrane remained before Callao until the 9th of May: he 
claimed, though in vain, the arrears of pay and prize-money due by 
the Peruvian government to the Chileno fleet, and such stores and 
provisions as were necessary. — The fear that possessed San Martin 
during the time of the admiral’s stay was ludicrous. He caused the 
Prueba to be surrounded with booms and chains. Men were so 
crowded into her that she could scarcely contain them every night, 
and every thing was done to prevent a fate similar to that of the 
Esmeralda ; but His Lordship is said to have sent word he did not 
mean to take her, otherwise he would do it in spite of all precautions, 
and that in midday too. 
