80 



PERU. 



No one suspected this old Spaniard of such 

 gross folly as giving political or military informa- 

 tion to these creatures of the Viceroy ; but he very 

 naturally heard with much interest any informa- 

 tion they possessed respecting his mines ; and in 

 an unguarded moment was probably guilty of the 

 high indiscretion of sending some message to the 

 Spaniards in the interior about his steam-engines 

 and other property. 



While he was still in confinement, I went one 

 day to visit him, as soon as the interdict against 

 visitors was removed. He was as cheerful as ever, 

 though well aware of his danger. The room in 

 which he was confined was hung round with old 

 pictures, amongst which was one of St Francis by 

 Velasquez, which he had been trying to purchase 

 from the friars, in the hope that I would accept 

 it, and hang it up in my ship. It was thus that 

 his thoughts were at all times more employed in 

 seeking means to oblige other people, than in at- 

 tending to his own concerns ; an amiable indiscre- 

 tion, but unsuited to such times, and to which, 

 perhaps, he owed his ruin. 



In the end this excellent old man was released 

 1 



