VALPARAISO. 71 
treachery to procure an excuse for arresting him. Knowing that an 
immense property of Abadia’s was in the hands of the royalists at 
Pasco, San Martin instructed two monks to go to him and offer to 
convey such letters to the commanders of the Spanish troops as 
might, at least, prevent the absolute ruin of the property, which 
chiefly consisted in mines, and in most expensive machinery which 
he had imported from England, with the idea and the hope of im- 
proving the country by the introduction of such machinery into it. 
The monks of course betrayed Abadia. He was thrown into prison, 
and tried before a tribunal instituted by San Martin. Yet, as his 
letters had been strictly confined to the business of his estates and 
machinery, he was acquitted, although the sentence was sent back 
more than once for revisal. However, before he was liberated, he 
was forced to pay an immense fine; and his wife and children were 
detained as hostages for his banishing himself to Panama, or some 
place not nearer. He took refuge on board the Alacrity, and then 
went into the Doris, where he won the esteem-and regard of every 
person on board both ships. San Martin has vulgarly been said 
to drink: I believe this is not true; but he is an opium eater, and 
his starts of passion are so frequent and violent, that no man feels his 
head safe. Every thing is given to the soldiers, therefore his govern- 
ment is popular with them ; but it is precarious, and it is thought not 
impossible that Lacerna, the royalist general, may recover Lima; in 
which case, it is expected that he will declare Peru independent, and 
dismiss by fair means or foul the Exercito Libertador. It is true 
that military despotism is the greatest curse under which a nation 
can suffer. But it never lasts long. One change has been effected, 
therefore the possibility of another is proved: the bands of tyranny 
are slackened ; and the people will grow, and be educated, a little 
roughly perhaps, but knowledge will advance; and, as knowledge is 
power, they will, at no distant period, be able to shake off the tyranny 
both of foreign governments and domestic despots, and to compel 
their rulers to acknowledge that they were made for the people, and 
not the people for them. 
ae 
