LIMA. 



93 



these operations of the enemy was quite natural ; 

 for the fortunes of the inhabitants, who had been 

 accustomed for ages to revel in luxury and wealth, 

 were now reduced to the lowest ebb ; and the 

 Spaniards, proud by birth and education, were 

 cut to the soul by such humiliating reverses, of 

 which these unaccustomed privations made them 

 only the more sensible. As they were aware that 

 Lord Cochrane and the greater part of his offi- 

 cers and crew were English, it was to be expected 

 they would be jealous and distrustful of all Eng- 

 lishmen, however unconnected with the Chilians, 

 or however circumspect in their conduct. A per- 

 son professing neutrality is placed in an awkward 

 situation, between two contending parties : his 

 indifference is ascribed to ill-will — the slightest 

 expression which escapes him in favour of the 

 other party is resented as hostility — and any 

 agreement, on a single point, is instantly seized 

 upon as an indubitable proof of his friendly dis- 

 position. 



To a mere traveller, this state of things might 

 have been amusing enough ; but to us, who had a 

 particular line of conduct to pursue, and a num- 



