yond which nothing could be done; though even this was of
importance, as cutting off supplies from the capital, the inhabitants of
which, in consequence of the privations they were subjected to, caused
great uneasiness to the Viceregal Government.

Several attempts were now made to entice the remaining Spanish naval
force from their shelter under the batteries, by placing the _Esmeralda_
apparently within reach, and the flag-ship herself in situations of some
danger. One day I carried her through an intricate strait called the
Boqueron, in which nothing beyond a fifty-ton schooner was ever seen.
The Spaniards, expecting every moment to see the ship strike, manned
their gun-boats, ready to attack as soon as she was aground, of which
there was little danger, for we had found, and buoyed off with small
bits of wood invisible to the enemy, a channel through which a vessel
could pass without much difficulty.

On the 2nd of December the _Esmeralda_, being in a more than usually
tempting position, the Spanish gun-boats ventured out in the hope of
recapturing her, and for an hour maintained a smart fire; but on seeing
the _O'Higgins_ manoeuvring to cut them off, they precipitately
retreated.

The preceeding successes caused great depression amongst the Spanish
troops, and on the following day the battalion of Numantia, numbering
650 disciplined men, deserted in a body, and joined the Chilian forces
at Chancay. On the 8th, forty Spanish officers followed their example;
and every day afterwards, officers, privates, and civilians of
respectability, joined the patriot army, which thus became considerably
reinforced; the defection of so large a portion of his troops being a
severe loss to the Viceroy.

On the 6th, Colonel Arenales, who, after his previous success, had
marched into the interior, defeated a division of the royalist army at
Pasco. On his proceeding to Huamanga, the authorities fled, and the
inhabitants declared themselves independent. Tarma was next abandoned,
and followed the same example, as did Huanuco, Cuenca, and Loxa;
whilst, on the news of the capture of the _Esmeralda_ arriving at
Truxillo, that important province also revolted, under the direction of
the Spanish governor, the Marquis of Torre Tagle.

Notwithstanding this succession of favourable events, General San Martin
still declined to march on Lima, remaining inactive at Haura, though the
unhealthy situation of the place was such, that nearly one-thi