dge of his chief than I
was, accepted the wager, and as a matter of course, won it.

Haura, 10 April, 1821
My dear Lord,

With what pleasure would I lose twenty bets like that
which I have unfortunately won of you, if you could but tell me
that I should be _the loser_. Nay more, I will lay you the same
wager now, that in another three weeks we shall not get to the
little room over the great entrance of the Palaccio. I have received
this afternoon a fine fat turtle; and egad, if I thought I _should
lose_, I would fatten him up all the more--but, alas! I fear we shall
have to calipee and calipash it in Haura; however, the bustle that has
lately prevailed seems to indicate some movement; and those of us
who are well, are ready to march at an hour's notice--but of course
you are infinitely better acquainted with these things than I am.
Still, I think that _were we more active and enterprising, a great deal
might he done, particularly with our cavalry--whose swords for want
of use are getting rusty. If we do not make a push now, God knows
when we shall do so._

* * * * *

The General appears desirous of striking a blow against Baldez.
It may be right---and I dare say it is; _but I should rather we had a
touch against the Capital_. Thank God we are about to do something.
Yours very truly,
PAROISSIEN.

The reader will have gathered from the narrative, that San Martin struck
no blow anywhere, even hesitating to enter Lima when no blow was
required to be struck. His _Aide-de-camp's_ view of the matter can
hardly be mistaken.

It is not a little remarkable, that in a letter addressed to the Supreme
Director, before sailing on the liberating expedition to Peru, I should
have, from the first, correctly estimated San Martin's character in
persisting not to make any military movement without an unnecessary
force to ensure his personal safety, though our recent victory at
Valdivia with a force of 350 men only, could not have given him any very
great idea of the difficulties to be encountered. As this letter was
omitted in its place, I will here transcribe it.

May 4, 1820.
Most excellent Sir,

Finding that all the measures proposed in the
expedition to Peru are made public--that all that is decided on
to-day is contradicted to-morrow--that no system is followed, either
in regard to naval or state matters,