APPENDIX. 387 
own in every point of view: he saw the danger to which he would be exposed 
if he attacked them, and therefore wisely shunned it, thinking with Sir 
John Falstaff, (whom he also imitates in his love of the bottle,) that « dis- 
cretion is the better part of valour.” The savage wished to cloke his cow- 
ardice under the mask of humanity and patriotism, and for that purpose 
issued a proclamation, expressing how extremely repugnant it was to his 
feelings to shed the blood of one single American: that it was his only 
wish to carry the sword of his country against its common enemies, the 
Godos or Spaniards: —he prepared to cross the Andes, resolved ‘to put 
the army under his command at the disposition of the government of Chile. 
On his presenting himself in Chile, these forces underwent an alteration of 
titles: they were styled by Buenos Ayres, Exercito de los Andes, 6 Exercito 
de Buenos Ayres; but were now called Exercito de la Republica de Chile. 
Thus did this modern hero, this Washington of South America, not only fly 
from the government which had elevated, distinguished, and protected him 
in the moment of danger ; but also robbed her of those forces which some 
nobler spirit might have led to rally round the ruins of their falling state. 
A desertion, fraud, and cowardice worthy of San Martin, and of him 
only. 
I should be extremely sorry to insinuate any thing derogatory to the cha- 
racter of so great and illustrious a person as San Martin ; but if it is admitted 
that conscience sometimes damps a man’s courage, — surely no person could 
be more likely to fear from its accusations than His Excellency. He must 
have recollected how much easier it was to gratify his brutal revenge on 
Carrera’s brothers in a dungeon, and loaded with shackles, than it would be 
to meet him at the head of an army, determined to conquer. 
By his orders, the most notorious infraction on the rights of war and hu- 
manity, perhaps, that is recorded of any country having pretensions to any 
degree of civilisation, was perpetrated in San Luis by his friend Dupuy, the 
lieutenant-governor of that town. After the battle of Maypi, all the officers 
taken prisoners in that action had been sent to San Luis, and recommended 
by San Martin to the particular attention of Don Vicente Dupuy, the lieu- 
tenant-governor. They were about fifty in number, including General Or- 
dotiez, Colonels Riberos and Murgado, and other field officers. Every 
Sunday the general and field officers presented themselves to Dupuy, with 
whom they generally dined and passed the night in playing at cards, &c., &c. 
Dupuy, either from a malevolent and blood-thirsty inclination (as some sup- 
3D 2 
