232 



PERU. 



the city, and appeared, above all things, anxious 

 to avoid any appearance of acting the part of a 

 conqueror. For the last ten years/' said he, 

 " I have been unremittingly employed against the 

 Spaniards ; or rather, in favour of this country, 

 for I am not against any one who is not hostile to 

 the cause of independence. All I wish is, that 

 this country should be managed by itself, and by 

 itself alone. As to the manner in which it is to be 

 governed, that belongs not at all to me. I propose 

 simply to give the people the means of declaring 

 themselves independent, and of establishing a 

 suitable form of government ; after which I shall 

 consider I have done enough, and leave them.'' 



On the next day, the 8th of July, a deputation 

 of the principal persons from Lima was sent to 

 invite San Martin formally to enter the capital, as 

 the inhabitants had agreed, after the most mature 

 deliberation, to the terms proposed. To this re^ 

 quisition he assented, but delayed his entry till 

 the 12th, some days after. 



It is proverbially difficult to discover the real 

 temper and character of great men ; and I was 

 therefore on the watch for such little traits in San 



