lawful magistrate. Neither by ourselves, nor by our aid, shall
party opinions which may have preceded your liberty be punished.
Ready to overthrow any armed force which may resist your rights,
we beseech you to forget all grievances antecedent to the day of
your glory, so as to reserve the most severe justice to obstinacy
and oppression."

Such, were the inducements held out to the Peruvian people, and such
was their first experience with regard to their liberators.

Yet even amidst inaction the fruits of demonstration early became
manifest, a vessel arriving on the 4th of October, from Guayaquil, with
the intelligence that on receiving news of the sailing of the
expedition, that province had declared itself independent. Upon the
arrival of this welcome news, I again begged of General San Martin to
reimbark the troops and move on Lima, and at length succeeded in
inducing him to make a move.

Previous to our departure, General San Martin issued the following
proclamation, here given to shew how promises solemnly entered into
could afterwards be broken.

"Peruvians! I have paid the tribute which, as a public man, I
owe to the opinion of others, and have shewn what is my object and
mission towards you. I come to fulfil the expectations of all those
who wish to belong to the country which gave them birth, and who
desire to be governed by their own laws. On the day when Peru
shall freely pronounce as to the form of her institutions, be they
whatever they may, _my functions shall cease_, and I shall have the
glory of announcing to the Government of Chili, of which I am a
subject, that their heroic efforts have at last received the consolation
of giving liberty to Peru, and peace to the neighbouring states."

The troops being reimbarked--on the 28th we sailed from Pisco, and on
the following day anchored before Callao. After having reconnoitred the
fortifications, I again urged on General San Martin an immediate
disembarcation of the force, but to this he once more strenuously
objected, to the great disappointment of the whole expedition;
insisting on going to Ancon, a place at some distance to the northward
of Callao. Having no control over the disposition of the troops, I was
obliged to submit; and on the 30th, detached the _San Martin,
Galvarino,_ and _Araucano_, to convoy the transports to Ancon, retaining
the _O'Higgins, Independencia_, and _Lautaro_, as if for the pur