DECREE OF SAN MARTIN. 



269 



^th of Aug, — On reaching the city, we learned 

 that General San Martin had taken upon himself 

 the title of Protector, thus uniting in his own per- 

 son both the civil and military authority of the li- 

 berated provinces. 



The proclamation which he issued on this occa- 

 sion is curious ; it has but little of the wonted bom- 

 bast of such documents, and though not sparing of 

 self-praise, is manly and decided ; and, as I fully 

 believe, from a number of collateral circumstances, 

 perfectly sincere. 



DECREE. 



" By Don Jose de San Martin, Captain-General, 

 and Commander-in-Chief of the Liberating 

 Army of Peru, Grand Cross of the Legion of 

 Merit of Chili, Protector of Peru. 



" When I took upon me the important enter- 

 prise of liberating this country, I had no other mo- 

 tive than a desire to advance the sacred cause of 

 America, and to promote the happiness of the Pe- 

 ruvian people. A very considerable part of these 

 objects has already been attained ; but the work 

 would remain incomplete, and my wishes imper- 



