258 



PERU. 



hand, ought to avoid running into such mistakes, 

 and to introduce, gradually, such improvements 

 as the country is prepared to receive, and for which 

 its people are so well adapted by their docility, and 

 the tendency to improvement, which mark their 

 social character.^' * 



As a measure of primary importance, San Mar- 

 tin sought to implant the feeling of independence, 

 by some act that should bind the inhabitants of 

 the capital to that cause. On the 28th of July, 

 therefore, the ceremonies of proclaiming and 

 swearing to the Independence of Peru took place. 

 The troops were drawn up in the great square, 

 in the centre of which was erected a lofty stage, 

 from whence San Martin, accompanied by the 

 Governor of the town, and some of the principal 

 inhabitants, displayed, for the first time, the In- 

 dependent flag of Peru, calling out, at the same 

 time, in a loud voice, — " From this moment Peru 



* The peculiarity of these doctrines, under all the cir- 

 cumstances of the country and the times is so striking, 

 that this extract in the original Spanish is added in a 

 note at the end of the volume. 



