220 POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHILI, 



while partaking of the hospitality of a nation at peace with their own 

 had basely taken advantage of it to insult the country. The Chilian 

 consul-general, when the news first reached Lima, was subjected to a 

 short arrest. Finally, matters settled down, and the parties agreed to 

 discuss the subjects of complaint on board the English sloop-of-war 

 Talbot. Santa Cruz sent one of his principal officers, and a conven- 

 tion was agreed upon for the suspension of hostilities on both sides for 

 the term of four months. The Peruvian vessels were to remain in 

 possession of the Chilians, and no warlike preparations during the time 

 were to be made by either party. Santa Cruz disavowed any partici- 

 pation in Freyre's plans, and expressed his willingness to pay Chili the 

 expenses of suppressing the attempt. He also bound himself to the 

 performance of his part of the convention, leaving the Chilian agent 

 subject to the approbation of his government, and assured him of his 

 earnest desire for a good understanding with Chili. 



The vessels returned to Chili, a diplomatic agent of Santa Cruz 

 accompanying them. The Chilian government refused to ratify the 

 convention when informed of it, and proceeded in the most active 

 preparations for fitting out all the captured Peruvian vessels. At this 

 time it might have dictated any terms to Santa Cruz, who was anxious 

 to secure his newly-acquired power. Chili, however, had no confi- 

 dence in him, and prepared for the coming struggle. Santa Cruz's 

 minister returned to Peru. He was followed by the Chilian fleet, 

 having a high diplomatic agent on board, with the government sine 

 qua non, viz., the abandonment of the Confederation, and the restora- 

 tion of the independent sovereignties of Peru and Bolivia. Santa Cruz 

 refused to receive a minister attended by an armed force, which had 

 the appearance of a menace. In vain did the Chilian minister offer to 

 send them away, and remain in the smallest vessel of the squadron, 

 saying the latter was merely to guard against a repetition of Freyre's 

 expedition. Nothing was done. The Chilian minister returned home, 

 and Chili then declared war against the Confederation, on the 12th of 

 December, 1836. Freyre's attempt had been crushed in August, 1836. 



Chili became sensible, too late, of her error in not protesting at first 

 against the armed interference of Santa Cruz in the affairs of Peru ; by 

 not doing which she tacitly assented, and thus encouraged him. But, 

 occupied with her internal concerns, she heeded little what was passing 

 around her, and had not Freyre's expedition been fitted out in Peru, 

 Santa Cruz's plans of government would have been unmolested. She 

 felt too late that no confidence could be placed in her new neighbours. 

 Determined, therefore, on his downfall, an expedition against him was 

 planned, composed of naval and land forces ; and numerous banished 



