with Guayaquil by seizing her on our own
account, as we were indisputably entitled to do, having chased her from
port to port, until, destitute of provisions, she was compelled to take
refuge in that port.

My orders to Captain Crosbie were to hoist at the peak of the
_Venganza_, the flag of Chili conjointly with that of Peru. This act
gave great offence to the Guayaquil Government, which manned its
gun-boats, erected breast-works, and brought guns to the river side with
the apparent intention of firing upon us; the Spanish sailors, who
shortly before had sold their ships from the dread of having to fight,
being extremely active in these hostile demonstrations.

Upon this, I ordered the _Valdivia_ to drift with the flood tide in the
direction of the gun-boats, now filled with Spanish officers and seamen.
Imagining that the frigate was about to attack them--though there was no
intention of the kind--these heroes ran the boats ashore, and took to
their heels in most admired disorder, not stopping till they had gained
the protection of the city.

The Junta, finding that we did not consider their warlike demonstration
worthy of notice, remonstrated at my taking possession of the
_Venganza_, but without effect, as I was not going to permit the Chilian
squadron to be thus cheated out of its prize. I therefore proposed such
terms as were best calculated to be accepted and ratified by the Junta
of Government, composed of Olmedo, Kimena, and Roco, as follows:--

1st.--The frigate _Venganza_ shall remain as belonging to the
Government of Guayaquil, and shall hoist her flag, which shall be
duly saluted.

2nd.--Guayaquil guarantees to the Chilian squadron, on responsibility
of 40,000 dollars, that the frigate _Venganza_ shall not be
delivered to, nor negotiated for with any Government, till those of
Chili and Peru shall have decided on what they may esteem most
just. Moreover, the Government of Guayaquil is bound to destroy
her rather than consent that the said vessel shall serve any other
state till such decision be made.

_3rd_.--Any Government which may henceforward be established
in Guayaquil shall be bound to the fulfilment of the articles here
made.

_4th_.--These articles shall be understood literally, and in good
faith, without mental reservations or restrictions.

(Signed) &c. &c.

After the ratification of this agreement, the Government of Guayaquil
addressed