ARREST OF TWO OFFICERS. 119 



witnesses were to be taken preparatory to the trial 

 of the prisoners. I immediately waited on the 

 Viceroy, and assured him there must be some 

 mistake : but, in order to prevent all further mis- 

 understanding, before making an official requisi- 

 tion to the Government for the officers to be de- 

 livered up, I wished to have access to them at 

 Callao. This, however reasonable, was at first 

 objected to, on the ground of improper communi- 

 cation ; but as I merely asked to have the means 

 of identifying their persons, an order was given 

 for that purpose, which I carried with me to the 

 Castle. 



The ferment at Callao, a place at all times 

 liable to violent popular commotions, was suppo- 

 sed to be so great on this irritating occasion, that 

 many people counselled me not to excite the mob 

 to greater fury by showing myself amongst them. 

 But it seemed very obvious that any delay in vi- 

 siting my officers in confinement at this particu- 

 lar moment, would tend directly to confirm all 

 the suspicions against them ; and possibly lead 

 to their being sacrificed to the fury of the popu- 

 lace. The executive Government, it was to be 



