118 



H. M. S. BLONDE. 



trousers^ and red uniforms^ presenting an agree- 

 able contrast to the ragged soldiers surrounding 

 the fort, who were staring with astonishment 

 at their brightly-polished musket-locks and 

 barrels. 



Under the protection of the commodore and 

 the consul I lost all anxiety about imprisonment 

 in the fort; and, instead of escaping to the 

 Blonde, we all went to spend the evening, and 

 drink tea with an English merchant and his 

 wife, living at Callao, who were friends of the 

 commodore. With them we passed the remain- 

 der of the evening, and were afterwards rowed 

 off to the frigate. Colonel Wilson confirmed 

 M. de Sartige^s account of the rencounter with 

 the monteneros, and I found Lord Edward 

 on board, still suffering from the lameness 

 which was occasioned by the wound in his 

 foot. 



