longing to the seamen--a
necessity which, no less than their want of pay or reward, irritated
them beyond measure, as, in effect, compelling them to fight the battles
of the Republic not only without pay but at their own expense. In
addition to this, I was in possession of the uncondemned portion of
other sums taken on the coast, and these also I was obliged to expend,
at the same time transmitting accounts thereof to the Minister of Marine
at Valparaiso, the appropriation being fully approved by the Chilian
Government. The destitute condition of the squadron, and the consequent
dissatisfaction of the crews, will be best shewn by a few extracts from
the letters of the officers and the men themselves.

On the 2nd of September, Captain Delano, the Commander of the
_Lantaro_, wrote to me as follows:--

"The officers as well as the men are dissatisfied, having been a
long time on the cruise, and at present without any kind of meat
or spirits, and without pay, so that they are not able to provide for
themselves any longer, though, _until starved_, they have borne it
without a murmur."

"The ship's company have now absolutely refused duty on
account of short allowance. The last _charqui_ (dried beef) they got
was rotten and full of vermin. They are wholly destitute of clothing,
and persist in their resolution not to do duty till beef and spirits
are supplied, alleging that they have served their time, with nothing
but promises so frequently broken that they will no longer be
put off."

"In your Lordship's absence I took the liberty to write to the
Government and make their complaints known, but the Minister of
Marine did not even give me an answer."

"The greater portion have now left the ship and are all gone
ashore, so that under existing circumstances, and with the
dissatisfaction of the officers and the remainder of the ship's
company I do not hold myself responsible for any accident that may
happen to the ship until these difficulties are removed, as the
cables are bad and not to be trusted to, and we have no anchor
sufficient to hold her."

"PAUL DELANO, _Captain_."

On Captain Delano sending his first lieutenant on shore to persuade the
men to return to the ship, he was arrested by order of the Government
and put in prison, the Protector's object being to get all the men to
desert, thus furthering his views towards the appropriation of the
s