224 POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHILI. 



stood alone ; he worked for his country ; and his fate was most un 

 merited. Deeply did every true friend of Chili deplore it. He haa 

 taught that the civil authority could be made supreme, and he 

 will have one of the most conspicuous places in the history of Chili. 

 He was in the prime of life, about forty-two years of age, unmarried, 

 and at no period were his services more required. His energy, how- 

 ever, seemed to have been imbibed by the whole administration, and 

 no abatement took place in the preparations for war. 



Vidaurre and his officers were tried by a court-martial held in 

 Valparaiso, and condemned to be executed. Twelve were shot, the 

 rest were banished. This was the first execution of such a sentence 

 for political offences that had ever occurred in Chili. Some pretended 

 to bode ill from it, but its effects so far have been salutary ; and these 

 desperate characters will not be so much inclined to run headlong into 

 revolutionary movements after seeing the fruits of it. 



The expedition, composed of three thousand men, finally sailed, and 

 disembarking at Islay, proceeded to Arequipa, the second city of Peru, 

 of which they took possession. Santa Cruz's troops retired to the 

 interior. Lafuente was here proclaimed Supreme Chief, according to 

 prescribed forms in such cases provided, and set about organizing his 

 government, filling offices without a real of revenue, or any source 

 from which he could raise any. No disaffected Peruvians joined 

 them, and their situation became very critical, as Santa Cruz was 

 concentrating his forces, and threatened to cut off the communication 

 with their ships. Thus hemmed in, they would have been obliged to 

 surrender at discretion. These advantages were possessed by Santa 

 Cruz, and the Chilians saw no way of escape. Why Santa Cruz 

 should have lost this opportunity to strike a decided blow, is incon- 

 ceivable. He did, however, waive it, and proposed to treat. Commu- 

 nications passed for some days. Santa Cruz's army augmenting daily, 

 was now double that of the Chilian general, who seemed to have no 

 alternative but submission. Still he put a brave countenance on the 

 affair, and signed at Paucarpata a treaty with Santa Cruz, having 

 previously held a council of war, which was attended by the minister 

 plenipotentiary which the Chilian government had sent with the ex- 

 pedition. There was no voice raised against the treaty. It was 

 honourable to the Chilians, and saved their whole army. Festivities 

 followed, after which the Chilian forces embarked and returned home. 

 Neither the government nor the people were satisfied. Blanco landed 

 secretly, and was received coldly. The President refused to ratify the 

 treaty. It was considered disgraceful, as the object of the war had 

 not been gained, and singularly enough, the war now became popular 



