from the Protector as the reward of labours in the cause of liberty,
but will applaud your resolution to select from amongst yourselves
the most enlightened of your citizens--men capable of securing the
independence and promoting the prosperity of the State on principles
of national freedom under the rule of law.

Be pleased to solicit in my name that the Sovereign Congress
may deign to deposit in their archives that letter and the charges
against me thereto annexed, which were preferred by Don Jose de
San Martin to the Chilian Government relative to my conduct in
Peru, in order that a record may remain whereby to judge of facts
when the actors shall have passed from this scene. Then the even
hand of time shall poise the scale of justice, apportioning to all the
due measure of approbation or reproach.

That the acts of the Sovereign Congress and of the Executive
Government of Peru may be such as shall call forth the admiration
and secure the affections of its people, is the prayer of

Your Excellency's obedient humble Servant,
COCHRANE.
Valparaiso, Dec. 12, 1822.

One word more with regard to these accusations of San Martin. It was not
till all his offers to me to abandon my allegiance to Chili, and to join
him in his defection had proved unavailing, that he sought to revenge
himself by such charges, well knowing that Zenteno and his party in the
Chilian ministry would second any chance of injuring me in public
estimation from their unabating personal enmity to me, arising from my
constant opposition to their selfish measures for private advantage.
Into these matters I have no inclination to enter, though possessing
abundant materials for disclosing a career of state dishonesty without
parallel in the history of Governments.

Up to the time of my last refusal of San Martin's offers, made through
Monteagudo, everything was "couleur de rose"--with all kinds of
declarations that "my lot should be equal to his own"--though, thank
God, my lot has been of a far different nature. It was within a week of
my last refusal that his charges against me were trumped up. I will
select one more from his numerous letters now in my possession, to show
that nothing but revenge at being disappointed in my co-operation to
ensure his personal aggrandisement, could have influenced him to
perpetrate such an act of meanness.

Lima, 20 Aug., 1821.

My esteemed friend,