282 



PERU, 



policy would have been to follow the fortunes of 

 the country, and to engage heartily in the new 

 cause. But this was too much to expect from men 

 bred up in the very hot-bed of monopoly and pre- 

 judice; and there were consequently few Spaniards 

 who did not look to the return of the Royal ar- 

 my with great anxiety ; and still fewer who placed 

 any real confidence in San Martin, or who took 

 sufficient pains to conceal their dislike. This led 

 afterwards to a series of despotic measures on the 

 part of the Protector, by which nearly all the 

 Spaniards were ruined, and eventually banished 

 from the country. 



With respect to society, the most conspicuous 

 traits which the extraordinary nature of the times 

 developed, were a constant apprehension of fur- 

 ther change, and an engrossing selfishness ; feel- 

 ings, natural enough, perhaps, during the panic 

 which at first overspread the city ; but which 

 ought to have subsided when the immediate dan- 

 ger was gone, and a new and secure system esta- 

 blished. It was quite otherwise, however ; and 

 the reason may be, that the Limenians, long pam- 

 pered by luxury and security, and now for the 

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