subsequently employed by San Martin to promulgate his infamous accusations against me, when he had no longer any hope of securing my co-operation; premising that in my ardour to get the army at once to Lima, and unsuspicious at that time of San Martin’s secret designs, I had laid Paroissien a wager that by a given day we should be in the Peruvian capital; the Aide-de-camp being a better judge 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,