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deposited in the forts, thus securing greater efficiency than before. To the astonishment of the Peruvians and Chilenos, no movement was made by the liberating army to take possession of the Capital; and as the Spanish troops were withdrawn, whilst no government existed, serious disorders were anticipated, so that the _Cabildo_ applied to Capt. Basil Hall, then in command of the British ship of war _Conway_, for his assistance to maintain tranquillity and protect public and private property. Captain Hall immediately despatched a party of marines, who contributed to maintain order. General San Martin having been apprised by the Viceroy of his intention to abandon the capital, had entered the harbour in the schooner _Sacramento_, but nevertheless gave no orders for its occupation. On the 7th a detachment of cavalry, _without orders_, entered Lima, and those on the 8th were followed by another detachment of infantry. On working up to the port on the 8th, I was surprised to find General San Martin still afloat in his schooner, though the liberating army was now entering the city in a body, and the occupation was complete; General San Martin remained on board till the evening of the 10th, when he privately landed. As the forts at Callao were still in the possession of the enemy, I made preparations to attack them, and to destroy the shipping still sheltered under them. Aware of my intentions, the garrison, on the 11th, sank the _San Sebastian_, the only frigate left in the harbour, in order to prevent her falling into our hands On the following day, the _O'Higgins, Lautaro, Puyrredon_, and _Potrillo_ arrived, so that the squadron was again complete. It was mentioned in the last chapter that I had seized a considerable quantity of wheat at Mollendo, on account of a breach of the armistice. This was still on board, and the city being in a state of famine, General San Martin directed that the wheat, of which there were upwards of two thousand _fanegas_, should be landed at the Chorillos free of duty. As the _San Martin_ was deeply laden, I objected to this from the dangerous nature of the anchorage, but more especially, that the only anchor on board was made from the remains of two broken anchors lashed together; this objection was nevertheless overruled, and, as I had anticipated, she went ashore at Chorillos, where, from the heavy swell which set in, she became a total wreck. On the 17th I received an invitation
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