statement of the case as regarded the injustice done to
the squadron, which had throughout supported itself,
even to the repairs and equipment of the ships. As
to the ruin which the captains predict, it was no
doubt intended by the envoys of San Martin and
their creatures in the Chilian Ministry, as the effect
would have been to have driven the men to desertion,
when the ships would have been turned over to Peru,
and manned with fresh crews. Fortunately for Chili,
this consummation was prevented by an occurrence
as strange as unexpected by her short-sighted rulers,
though long before predicted by myself.

CHAPTER XI.

NEGOCIATIONS WITH BOLIVAR--EXILE OF MONTEAGUDO--COMPLAINTS OF THE
LIMENOS--EXTRAVAGANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT--EXCULPATION OF SAN
MARTIN--EFFECTS OF POPULAR DISSENSION--DISAGREEMENT OF BOLIVAR
AND SAN MARTIN--VOTE OF PERUVIAN CONGRESS--EXTRAORDINARY NEGLECT
OF THE CHILIAN SQUADRON--SAN MARTIN'S ARRIVAL AT VALPARAISO--
I DEMAND HIS TRIAL--COUNTENANCE OF THE SUPREME DIRECTOR--
SQUADRON AT LENGTH PAID WAGES--REVOLT OF CONCEPTION--GENERAL
FREIRE APPRISES ME OF IT--FREIRE ASKS FOR MY SUPPORT--HIS
LETTER NOT REPLIED TO--SAN MARTIN'S INFLUENCE.

Mention has been made in a previous chapter
of the all but total destruction of a division of the
liberating army by General Canterac, and of the
bombastic proclamations issued on that occasion by
San Martin, to the effect that they were "only
dispersed, not beaten," &c. The Protector was
however ill at ease, and entered into a correspondence
with Bolivar, with a view to procure the assistance
of Columbian troops against the Spaniards, who,
following up their success, were making demonstrations
of attacking the patriot forces in Lima. To
this request was added another soliciting an interview
with Bolivar at Guayaquil. A similar despatch was
sent to Santiago, asking, in the most urgent terms,
for aid from the Chilian Government.

The whole affair--as narrated at the time, for
personally I had nothing to do with it--was somewhat
curious. San Martin's designs on Guayaquil
having got wind, Bolivar marched the Columbian
troops across the Cordillera, successfully invaded
Quito, and was hastening towards Guayaquil, with a
view of being beforehand with San Martin, of whose
intentions upon that province he was aware. After
the ab