Your appreciated letter, received yesterday, has convinced
me that the frankness of your sentiments is only equalled by
the regard you entertain for the public cause--especially as to
matters under my charge. I cannot view the counsel and opinions
you offer, otherwise than as proof of the zeal you entertain for my
interests. Aware of the estimation in which you hold glorious
acts, I cannot do otherwise than sympathize with you, as you desire
that I shall augment those I have acquired. Without entertaining
a doubt that I shall contribute effectually in the field still open to
us--_more particularly to you_, I wish that the enterprises in which
you evince so much zeal, _did not require so great temerity to carry
them out, and such enthusiasm to bring them to a successful result._
Believe me, my Lord, that nothing will make me swerve from the
determination that the _lot of Lord Cochrane shall be that of Gen.
San Martin._

I hope that in your correspondence with Sir Thos. Hardy, all
difficulties will be smoothed in a manner satisfactory to both. I
understand that he is desirous to accord to _our_ flag all that justice
demands and the policy of England will permit. On these points I
confide in your prudence.

Never doubt, my Lord, of the sincere friendship with which I am
your affectionate

JOSE DE SAN MARTIN.

It is so utterly incredible that a man entertaining such opinions of me
should believe in the charges he afterwards made against me, _with
regard to acts occurring long previous to this period_, even to accusing
me of "endangering the safety of the squadron from the first moment of
our quitting Valparaiso," that I will not weary the reader's patience in
commenting further upon them.

CHAPTER XIII.

FREIRE MARCHES ON VALPARAISO--ELECTED SUPREME DIRECTOR--HE BEGS OF ME TO
RETURN--MY REPLY--SUBSEQUENT LETTER TO GENERAL FREIRE.

On the 18th of January, 1823, I hauled down my flag, hoisted in the
_Montezuma_ schooner--the only vessel which the suspicious jealousy of
the Chilian ministers had left me--and sailed for Rio de Janiero in the
chartered brig, Colonel Allen, though my brother's steamer, the _Rising
Star_--or rather the Chilian Government's steamer, upon which he had a
lien for money advanced for its completion and equipment--was lying idle
at Valparaiso. Could I have taken this vessel with me to Brazil, on the
refusal of Chili to