74 



PERU. 



of Lima, The inner harbour was guarded by an 

 extensive system of batteries, admirably con- 

 structed, and bearing the general name of the 

 Castle of Callao. The merchant ships, as well 

 as the men-of-war, consisting, at that time, of the 

 Esmeralda, a large 40 gun frigate, and two sloops 

 of war, were moored under the guns of the 

 castle within a semicircle of fourteen gun-boats, 

 and a boom made of spars chained together* 

 Lord Cochrane having previously reconnoitred 

 these formidable defences in person, undertook, on 

 the night of the 5th of November, the desperate 

 enterprise of cutting out the Spanish frigate, al- 

 though she was known to be fully prepared for an 

 attack. His Lordship proceeded in fourteen 

 boats, containing 240 men, all volunteers from 

 the different ships of the squadron, in two divi- 

 sions ; one under the immediate orders of Captain 

 Crosbie, the other under Captain Guise; both 

 commanding ships of the Chilian squadron. 



At midnight, the boats having forced their way 

 across the boom. Lord Cochrane, who was lead- 

 ing, rowed alongside the first gun-boat, and, tak- 

 ing the officer by surprise, proposed to him, with 



