DISSENSIONS. 415 



O'Higgins, at the request of the inhabit- 

 ants, who highly disapproved of the change, 

 marched towards the capital, and a civil 

 war was on the eve of taking place between 

 the two parties ; the two bodies of troops, 

 under the respective commands of O'Hig- 

 gins and J. M. Carrera, being about to 

 engage. 



At this juncture a person arrived at San- 

 tiago, deputed by Osorio, who announced 

 that Abascal, the Viceroy of Lima, disap- 

 proved of the capitulation. O'Higgins, much 

 to his honour, in order to put an end to 

 dissensions at so critical a moment, agreed 

 to submit to the new Junta. J. M. Carrera, 

 however, by dismissing some of the best 

 officers, so disgusted the troops, that a great 

 number of them deserted ; in consequence 

 of which he left the army (of which he had 

 taken the command) under the orders of 

 O'Higgins, and returned to Santiago. Oso- 

 rio, at the head of four thousand men. 



