orders, and recalled to the attention of the Protector that the force was still under arms, when San Martin ordered that the troops should receive their rations!”

“Thus Gen. Cantarac, with 3,200 men, passed to the southward of Lima—­within half-musket shot of the protecting army of Peru, composed of 12,000—­entered the castles of Callao with a convoy of cattle and provisions, where he refreshed and rested his troops for six days, and then retired on the 15th, taking with him the whole of the vast treasure deposited therein by the Limenos, and leisurely retreating on the north side of Lima.”

“After Cantarac had led his troops into the batteries of Callao, the success was announced by the firing of guns and other demonstrations which harrowed up the souls of the Chilian officers.  The patriot army thereupon passively occupied their old camp at the Legua, between Callao and Lima.”

“It would be an act of injustice not to mention that the second in command, General Las Heras, disgusted with the result, left the service of the Protector, and requested his passport to Chili, which was granted; his example being followed by several officers of the army, who, deeply wounded by what had taken place, preferred obscurity, and even poverty, to further serving under such circumstances.  The British ship of war, Superb, was in the bay, and several of the officers, expecting to see the decisive blow struck in Peru, repaired to San Martin’s head-quarters, and were astounded at the coolness of a general, who, commanding 12,000 men, could abandon a favourable position in which he might at least have intercepted the convoy of cattle, and so at once have compelled the surrender of Callao, instead of permitting them to pass without a single shot being fired."[2]

[Footnote 2:  “Twenty years Residence in South America,” by W.B.  Stevenson.  Vol. iii.  London, 1825.]

The preceding extract, published in London by one who was by my side during the whole affair, is perfectly correct.  The Limenos were deeply humiliated by the occurrence, nor was their annoyance mitigated by the publication of the following proclamation in the ministerial Gazette of the 19th, in which General San Martin informed them that he had beaten the enemy and pursued the fugitives! though, the said enemy had relieved and reinforced the fortress, and then coolly walked off unmolested with plate and money to the amount of many millions of dollars; in fact, the whole wealth of Lima, which, as has been said, was deposited by the inhabitants in the fortress for security.

   Limenos,