116 



RIDE TO CALLAO. 



tell the gentleman if he calls at the fort^ per- 

 haps he will get it again. The merchant took 

 upon himself to assure him that the letter was 

 only one of recommendation ; but he would 

 not consent to restore it without its being first 

 opened. 



After getting my bill changed at Callao^ I 

 was proceeding to the vice-consuFs house to 

 get a signal hoisted for the Blonde to send a boat^ 

 when I met the captain of the port^ a very 

 intelligent man who had been of service to me 

 when I first landed^ and to him I related the 

 story of the letter. He seemed to be struck 

 at once with the immediate necessity for my 

 leaving Callao^ and getting off to the frigate ; 

 for he said that if the letter contained any 

 opinion unfavourable to Salaverry^ I should be 

 shut up in the fort myself for being the bearer 

 of it J and that he had just learned that the 



