rs, we opened fire upon
the treasure-ship and other hostile vessels in the anchorage, the
batteries and gun-boats returning our fire, Lady Cochrane remaining on
deck during the conflict. Seeing a gunner hesitate to fire his gun,
close to which she was standing, and imagining that his hesitation from
her proximity might, if observed, expose him to punishment, she seized
the man's arm, and directing the match fired the gun. The effort was,
however, too much for her, as she immediately fainted, and was carried
below.

The treasure-vessel having been crippled, and the gun-boats beaten off,
we left off firing and returned to our former anchorage, Lady Cochrane
again coming on deck. As soon as the sails were furled, the men in the
tops, and the whole crew on deck, no doubt by preconcerted arrangement,
spontaneously burst forth with the inspiring strains of their national
anthem, some poet amongst them having extemporized an alteration of the
words into a prayer for the blessing of Divine providence on me and my
devoted wife; the effect of this unexpected mark of attachment from five
hundred manly voices being so overwhelming as to affect her Ladyship
more than had the din of cannon.

CHAPTER VI.

RETURN TO CALLAO--LIMA ABANDONED--HESITATION OF GEN. SAN MARTIN TO
OCCUPY THE CITY--LOSS OF THE SAN MARTIN--EXCESSES OF THE
SPANIARDS--PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE--SAN MARTIN ASSUMES AUTOCRATIC
POWER UNDER THE TITLE OF PROTECTOR--MY REMONSTRANCE--HIS REPLY--MUTINOUS
STATE OF THE SQUADRON FROM NEGLECT.

We arrived at Callao on the 2nd of July, when learning that Lima was no
longer tenable from want of provisions, and that an intention existed on
the part of the Viceroy to abandon it, I forebore to make any hostile
demonstration which might interfere with such decision, and withdrew to
a distance from the port, awaiting the result, which could not be far
distant, as the people had become clamorous, and all hope of assistance
from Spain was abandoned.

Having, however, learned, on the 5th of July, that an attempt was being
made by the Viceroy to obtain a still further prolongation of the
armistice, I again entered the bay with the _San Martin_--my former
flag-ship, the _O'Higgins_, being absent on the coast.

On the 6th the Viceroy abandoned the city, retaining, however, the
fortresses at Callao, the garrison of which was reinforced from the
troops which had evacuated Lima; a large quantity of warlike stores
being also