It was in Peru, then, that the dispute between Cochrane and San Martin broke out in a public fashion.  Its origin in this instance was a difference of opinion concerning the measures to be taken for the capturing of Callao Castle.  The impetuous Irishman was for storming the place at once.  The prudent San Martin, on the other hand, was desirous of bringing about the surrender without bloodshed.  The latter had his way, but was subjected to some criticism, since a number of Royalist soldiers who escaped were enabled to carry on the campaign in the interior.

The second and more violent dispute broke out on San Martin’s refusal to pay the fleet out of the funds in Lima.  On this Lord Cochrane took forcible possession of a large sum of money at the Port of Ancon, thus widening still further the already grave breach between the two.  Once or twice, indeed, it was a mere chance which prevented an outbreak of active hostilities between the sea and land forces.  Fortunately for all concerned, matters were not destined to reach such a pass.  This, however, is somewhat in advance of the period with which we are dealing, and it will be necessary to return for a short while to Peru in its colonial state.

In Peru, during the last few years of the Spanish regime, the Royalist authorities, bending to the urgent necessity of a concession to public opinion which might enable them to retain their power for a little longer, published some periodical papers, which, although of course strongly biased in their intelligence in favour of the Royalist cause, nevertheless gave a more or less accurate account of many of the events which had passed into hard and fast history.  Thus the inhabitants of Lima were enabled to learn of the establishment of the Republics in Colombia, Buenos Aires, and Chile.

In 1812, moreover, the Inquisition had been abolished.  Of this, Lima had been the head-quarters in South America from the day of its first institution.  Here a similar stern and merciless procedure to that in other parts of the world was carried on.  Indeed, the capital of the senior Viceroy was in every way the most reactionary spot in South America.  In 1812, when it became known that the Cortes of Spain had abolished the Inquisition, a number of Peruvians entered the premises of the Holy office in order to inspect them.  According to one who took part in it, the visit was unexpectedly exciting, for, on ransacking the documents, many of those present found their own names marked down as those of future victims.  The sight of the torture-room inspired very different feelings in the breasts of the Limanians, and the sight of the iniquitous instruments enraged them to the point of destroying much within the building.  Many trophies and relics were carried away as momentoes of the occasion.  The following morning, however, the Archbishop proceeded in state to the cathedral, and declared all those excommunicated who had taken, and were retaining, any object belonging to the Inquisition.  By this means a certain proportion of the objects were recovered.