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PERU. 



been adopted : but it is so seldom that men in 

 real life recollect, on such tempting occasions, 

 those maxims at other times so obvious, which 

 stand between them and a display of their power; 

 that the Limenians were quite taken by surprise; 

 and could scarcely believe it possible, that they 

 should be so treated by a man whom they had 

 been taught to consider as an enemy. His an- 

 swer, therefore, was considered as somewhat chi- 

 valrous ; and certainly it was very considerate of 

 the feelings of the citizens. After discussing it 

 for some time, however, a doubt was started as to 

 its sincerity ; and one of the company went so far 

 as to suggest that the whole was a mockery of 

 their distress, and that, in a few hours, San Mar- 

 tin would be entering the city at the head of his 

 troops to pillage and lay it waste. Upon this mo- 

 tion being suggested, the little old gentleman who 

 had been so active during the consultations of 

 yesterday, proposed that the matter should be put 

 to the proof by the Governor sending an order to 

 some of the troops investing the town ; and the 

 result would at once show on what ground they 

 stood. Accordingly, an order was written by the 



