ALARM IN LIMA. 



219 



toy ; and returned in the evening to my ship, 

 anchored not very far from Lord Cochrane's fleet. 



On going to Lima next day, I found it in the 

 most singular state of agitation. It was now ge- 

 nerally known that the Royalists meant to aban- 

 don the city to its fate ; and it was clear, that 

 whatever happened, a violent revulsion must take 

 place ; but as no one knew, or could guess, what 

 its extent might prove, every one deemed the 

 crisis full of danger and difficulty. The timor- 

 ous were distracted by the wildest fears ; the 

 bold and steady knew not how to apply their 

 courage ; and the irresolute were left in the most 

 pitiable state ; but the strangers, unwilling to of- 

 fend either side, did wisely by putting a good 

 face on the matter and taking their chance. The 

 female part of the community, though much 

 embarrassed, certainly behaved better than the 

 men : they displayed more fortitude, were less 

 timorous, less querulous under suffering, in ge- 

 neral saw things in a brighter point of view, and 

 did not distress themselves, or those about them, 

 by needless complaints and anticipations of evil. 

 On every successive day things became worse ; 



