LIMA ABANDONED BY THE SPANIARDS. 



46 



of this moment that I have hitherto deferred 

 advancing ; and to those who know the full extent 

 of the means which have been put in action, a 

 sufficient explanation is afforded of all the delays 

 that have taken place. I have been gaining, 

 indeed, day by day, fresh allies in the hearts of 

 the people, the only certain allies in such a war. 

 In the secondary point of military strength, I 

 have been, from the same causes, equally successful 

 in augmenting and improving the liberating army ; 

 while that of the Spaniards has been wasted by 

 want and desertion. The country has now become 

 sensible of its time interests, and it is right the 

 inhabitants should have the means of expressing 

 what they think. Public opinion is an engine 

 newly introduced into this country ; the Spaniards, 

 who are utterly incapable of directing it, have 

 prohibited its use ; but they shall now experience 

 its strength and importance." 



On another occasion I heard San Martin explain 

 the peculiar necessity there was for acting in this 

 cautious, and, as it were, tardy manner, in revo- 

 lutionising Peru. Its geographical situation had, 

 in his opinion, great influence in continuing that 

 state of ignorance so favourable to the mistaken 

 policy of the Spaniards ; long after the other 

 countries of South America had awakened from 

 their apathy. Buenos Ayres, from its vicinity to 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and the facility of inter- 

 course between it and Europe, had many years 

 before acquired the means of gaining information, 

 which had not yet reached Peru. Chili originally 

 derived her knowledge through Buenos Ayres, 

 but more recently by direct communication from 

 England and North America. Columbia, although 

 the scene of terrible wars, had the advantage of 

 being near the West Indies and North America ; 

 and Mexico was also in constant communication 

 with those places, as well as with Europe. Thus 

 they had all, more or less, enjoyed opportunities 

 of obtaining much useful knowledge, during times 

 little favourable, it is true, to its culture, but 

 which did not, indeed could not, prevent its in- 

 fluence from being salutary. Peru, however, was 

 unfortunately cut off by nature from direct com- 

 munication with the more enlightened countries 

 of the earth, and it was only very recently that 

 the first rays of knowledge had pierced through 

 the clouds of error and superstition which the 

 folly and bigotry of the government had spread 

 over it ; and the people were still not only very 

 ignorant of their own rights, but required time 

 and encouragement to learn how to think justly 

 on the subject. To have taken the capital by a 

 coup -de-main, therefore, would have answered no 

 purpose, but would probably have irritated the 

 people, and induced them to resist the arms of 

 the Patriots, from a misconception of their real 

 intentions. 



The gradual progress of intelligence in the 

 other states of South America, said San Martin, 

 had insensibly prepared the people's minds for 

 the Revolution. In Chili and elsewhere, the mine 

 had been silently charged, and the train required 

 only to be touched ; — in Peru, where the materials 

 were yet to be prepared, any premature attempt 

 at explosion must have been unsuccessful. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Consternation of the Inhabitants of Lima on being aban- 

 doned by the Spanish Troops — Panic and Flight to Callao. 

 — Meeting of the Public Authorities. — Invitation sent to 

 San Martin. — Wise and generous Reply. — Restoration of 

 Tranquillity. 



The privilege which our neutral character gave 

 us of examining both sides of the question in 

 person, was turned to great account at this period ; 

 for immediately after conversing with the Patriot 

 general San Martin, I landed and went to Lima, 

 where I had an interview, within the same hour, 

 with the Spanish Viceroy ; and returned in the 

 evening to my ship, anchored not very far from 

 the Chilian fleet under Lord Cochrane. 



On going to Lima, I found it in the most 

 singular state of agitation. It was now generally 

 known that the Royalists meant to abandon the 

 city to its fate ; and it was clear, that whatever 

 happened, a violent revulsion might be expected 

 to take place ; but no one knew, or could guess, 

 what its extent might prove, although every one 

 deemed the crisis full of danger and difficulty. 

 The timorous were distracted by the wildest fears; 

 the bold and steady knew not how to apply their 

 courage ; while the irresolute were left in the 

 most pitiable state. The English and other 

 strangers, unwilling to offend either side, I thought 

 acted wisely by putting a good face on the matter 

 and taking their chance. The female part of the 

 community, though much embarrassed and flut- 

 tered, certainly behaved better than the men : 

 they displayed more fortitude, were less timorous, 

 less querulous under suffering, in general saw 

 things in a brighter point of view, and did not 

 distress themselves, or those about them, by 

 needless complaints and anticipations of evil. In 

 their hours of ease, no females on the face of the 

 earth could be more uncertain, coy, and hard to 

 please, than these very Limenas, who, now that 

 the danger was imminent, really behaved with 

 admirable judgment and firmness. On every 

 successive day things became worse ; and towards 

 the close of the week, the terrors of the people 

 assuming the character of despair, it was utterly 

 useless to reason with them, or to attempt im- 

 pressing upon their minds the value of calmness 

 and patience at such an alarming moment. 



On the 5th of July 1821, the Viceroy issued a 

 proclamation, announcing his intention of abandon- 

 ing the city, and pointed out Callao as an asylum 

 for those who fancied themselves insecure in the 

 capital. This was the signal for immediate flight ; a 

 rush was made towards the castle by terrified mul- 

 titudes, who, when questioned as to their reasons for 

 leaving the city, could give none but that of fear : 

 indeed the majority acted from mere panic, which 

 spread amongst them in the most extraordinary 

 manner. 



I had gone to the ship in the morning, but 

 hearing shortly afterwards by an express sent to 

 me by the English merchants that the capital was 

 certainly to be deserted by the Royalists next day, 

 and wishing to be near my countrymen, whom I had 

 strongly recommended, come what might, to stay 

 by their property in Lima, I landed, and proceeded 

 along the Callao road. It was with great difficulty 

 that I could make head against the crowd of fugi- 

 tives coming down in the opposite direction ; groups 



