76 



PERU. 



under weigh when the attack commenced ; and, 

 in order to prevent their being mistaken by the 

 batteries for the Esmeralda, showed distinguishing 

 signals : but Lord Cochrane, who had foreseen 

 and provided even for this minute circumstance, 

 hoisted the same lights as the American and Eng- 

 lish frigates ; and thus rendered it impossible 

 for the batteries to discriminate between the three 

 ships : the Esmeralda, in consequence, was very 

 little injured by the shot from the batteries. 



The Spaniards had upwards of 120 men kill- 

 ed and wounded; the Chilians 11 killed, and 30 

 wounded. 



This loss was a death-blow to the Spanish na- 

 val force in that quarter of the world ; for, al- 

 though there were still two Spanish frigates and 

 some smaller vessels in the Pacific, they never 

 afterwards ventured to show themselves, but 

 left Lord Cochrane undisputed master of the 

 coast. 



The skill and gallantry displayed by Lord 

 Cochrane, both in planning and conducting this 

 astonishing enterprise, are so peculiarly his own, 

 and so much in character with the great deeds of 



