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Spanish troops were withdrawn, whilst no government existed, serious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