SAN MARTIN. 



211 



San Martin had taken such deep root in Lima, 

 and the surrounding country ; that the Viceroy 

 felt himself insecure in that quarter ; and was 

 willing to try a different mode of warfare, after 

 having in vain endeavoured to stem the torrent of 

 new opinions which the expedition had introduced. 

 He well knew that San Martin''s great art consist- 

 ed in winning to his cause all persons within his 

 reach, and in stimulating them to assert their 

 claim to independence. The policy of the Royal- 

 ists, therefore, required that some change of plan 

 should be adopted, and it was resolved to yield for 

 the present to the storm. Whether these were 

 the Viceroy'^s real motives or not, is immaterial. 

 I had better, and more frequent opportunities of 

 hearing what were General San Martin's views^ 

 and I therefore give them with more confidence. 

 How far his professions were sincere, or, if sin- 

 cere, his plans were wise, it is very difficult to 

 say. They certainly appeared to many people very 

 judicious at the time, as they were uniformly fol- 

 lowed by the success which he anticipated ; and 

 I am free to confess, that whatever may have been 

 his subsequent conduct, his measures, at this 



