ned from enterprise of any kind. To allay this feeling
General San Martin had recourse to an almost incredible violation of
truth, intended to impress upon the Chilian people, that the army, and
not the squadron, had captured the _Esmeralda!_--indeed stating as much
in words, and declaring that the whole affair was the result of his own
plans, to which I had agreed! though the truth is, that doubting his
confidants, I had concealed from him my intentions of making the attack.
The following is an extract from the bulletin issued to the army:--

"Before the General-in-Chief left the Vice-Admiral of the
Squadron, _they agreed on the execution of a memorable project,
sufficient to astound intrepidity itself!_ and to make the history of
the liberating expedition of Peru eternal!"

"Those valiant soldiers who for a length of time have suffered
with the most heroic constancy the severest oppression, and the
most inhuman treatment in the dungeons of Casas-matas, have just
arrived at our head-quarters. Flattering promises of liberty, and
the threats of death, were not sufficient to destroy their loyalty to
their country; they have waited with firmness the day on which
their companions in arms should rescue them from their misery, and
revenge the insults which, humanity has received in their persons.
This glory was reserved _to the liberating army, whose efforts have
snatched from the hands of tyranny these respectable victims._ Let
this be published for the satisfaction of these individuals, _and that
of the army, to whose arms they owe their liberty_."

It thus went forth to the people of Chili, that the army captured the
frigate, and subsequently released the prisoners, though not a man in
the whole force had the most distant idea that an attack was even
contemplated, much less could it have co-operated, seeing that it was
far away in cantonments! This bulletin excited the astonishment of the
troops; but as it contributed to their _amour propre_, by representing
to the Chilian people that the achievement which had been effected was
due to them, they accepted it; whilst I thought it beneath me to refute
a falsehood palpable to the whole expedition. It had, however, as
General San Martin no doubt calculated, the effect of allaying, for the
moment, a dissatisfaction which foreboded serious consequences.

On the 15th we again sailed from Huacho, to renew the blockade at
Callao, be