the
inhabitants were killed, the town was sacked, and a large number of
prisoners, myself included, carried off. Next morning troops from
Concepcion came in pursuit, and rescued us as we were crossing a river.

"Soon after this affair I returned to Valparaiso, and engaged as first
officer of a ship named the _Minerva_, which had been hired by the
Chilian Government as a transport to carry out troops to Peru. Having
landed the troops, I took part, on 5th November, in cutting out a
Spanish frigate named the _Esmeraldas_ from under the Callao batteries.
This affair was planned and headed by Lord Cochrane. Owing to my being
in this affair I was appointed to a Chilian sloop of war, and received a
lieutenant's commission.

"I will not take up your time at present with an account of the various
cuttings-out and other warlike expeditions I was engaged in while in the
Chilian service. It is enough to refer to the last, which ended my
connection with that service. Having been sent in charge of a boat up a
river, to recover a quantity of property belonging to British and
American merchants, which had been seized by the miscreant Benevades, we
set off and pulled up unmolested, but finding nothing of consequence,
turned to pull back again, when volleys of musketry were poured into us
from both banks. We saw no one, and could do nothing but pull down as
fast as possible, losing many men as we went. At last a few horsemen
showed themselves. We had a carronade in the bow, which we instantly
turned on them and discharged. This was just what they wanted. At the
signal, a large boat filled with soldiers shoved out and boarded us. We
fought, of course; but with so many wounded, and assailed by superior
numbers, we had no chance, and were soon beaten. I received a
tremendous blow on the back of the neck, which nearly killed me.
Fortunately I did not fall. Those who did, or were too badly wounded to
walk, were at once thrown into the river. The rest of us had our
clothes stripped off, and some rags given us in exchange. A pair of
trousers cut off at the knees, a ragged poncho, and a sombrero fell to
my share. We were marched off to prison, where we lay three weeks.
Every Chilian of our party was shot, while I and three other Europeans
were exchanged for four of Benevades's officers.

"Soon after this event, while at Valparaiso, I received a letter from my
dear mother telling me that she was ill. I quitted the Chilian navy