nted during the contest, it is a
gratification to know that such interests were only postponed for the
general good. Should there, however, be any who conceive themselves
aggrieved by my conduct. I have to request them to make known
their complaints, in order that I may have an opportunity of particular
reply.

I trust that you will do me the justice to believe that I have not
determined to withdraw myself from these seas, whilst anything
remained within my means to accomplish for your benefit and
security.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen,
Your faithful humble servant,
COCHRANE.
Quintero, Chili, Jan. 4, 1823.

Though I remained in Chili a fortnight after the date of this letter,
not a complaint of any kind was forwarded from the merchants; indeed,
considering the protection which the squadron had afforded to their
existing commerce, and the facilities which it had given for extending
it, I had no reason to suppose that any complaint would be made.

The above addresses were printed by a lithographic press in my house at
Quintero, this being the first introduced into the Pacific States. I had
sent for this press from England, together with other social
improvements, and a number of agricultural implements, hoping thereby,
though at my own expense, to give an impetus to industry in Chili. All
this was, however, frustrated, and the mortification was not a little
enhanced by the circumstance that, whilst turning printer for the nonce,
there lay opposite my house at Quintero one of our best prizes, the
_Aguila_, a wreck, tenanted only by shell-fish--she having gone ashore
whilst waiting the decision of the Chilian Government, previous to being
sold for the benefit of her captors!

As the Chilian Government refused to permit my refutation of San
Martin's charges against me in a way as public as they had been
promulgated, I addressed the following note to the Peruvian congress,
together with a copy of the refutation:--

To His Excellency the President of the Congress of Peru.
Sir,

I have the honour to transmit through you to the Sovereign
Congress a copy of a letter addressed by me to Don Jose de San
Martin, translations of which I have forwarded to Europe and to
North America, to be issued to the world through the press.
Mankind will then cease to accuse the Peruvians of ingratitude,
and will do longer wonder that an Imperial Crown was withheld