SAN MAIITIK. 



the independence of which had been established 

 in I8IO5 naturally dreaded that the Spaniards 

 would not long be confined to the western side of 

 the Andes ; but would speedily make a descent 

 upon the provinces of the River Plate, of which 

 Buenos Ayres is the capital. In order to guard 

 against this formidable danger, they bravely re- 

 solved themselves to become the invaders, and by 

 great exertions equipped an army of 4000 men. 

 The command of this force was given to General 

 Don Jose de San Martin, a native of the town of 

 Yapeyu in Paraguay ; a man greatly beloved by 

 all ranks, and held in such high estimation by the 

 people, that to his personal exertions the forma- 

 tion of this army is chiefly due. 



With these troops San Martin entered Chili 

 by a pass over the Andes heretofore deemed in- 

 accessible, and on the 12th of February 181^, at- 

 tacked and completely defeated the Royal army 

 at Chacabuco. The Chilians, thus freed from the 

 immediate presence of the enemy, again assem- 

 bled in congress, and having established a new 

 form of government, consisting of a director and 

 five senators, unanimously elected General San 



