78 



PERU. 



perfect liberty of action, there was no need of in- 

 fluence or management, and our excellent friend's 

 occupation was gone. He was no longer sought 

 for at the palace, nor chased in the streets, nor 

 blockaded in his house. During the siege of Li- 

 ma, and while its fall was still doubtful, his good- 

 will had been sedulously courted by the emissa- 

 ries of the Patriots ; but when the conquest was 

 complete, his support was of less moment ; and 

 the old man, fallen from his high estate, had not 

 forbearance enough to conceal his chagrin ; and 

 probably, in conversation, expressed himself in- 

 discreetly, with respect to the reigning powers. 

 Be this as it may, he soon received a severe les- 

 son of prudence. Two friars called upon him one 

 morning, saying, they had come from that part of 

 the country where his mines lay, then occupied 

 by the Spanish forces. They gave out that they 

 were bearers of a message from the Viceroy, that, 

 unless he sent back correct information respect- 

 ing the state of Lima, his steam-engines and other 

 works would all be destroyed. He endeavoured 

 to get rid of these friars without committing him- 

 self so seriously as to give them the intelligence 



