capacity as Commander in Chief of the
Chilian navy.

On the 3rd of August, General San Martin issued a proclamation to the
same effect as his declaration to the now extinct _Cabildo_; setting
forth that although it was abundantly notorious that he aspired only to
retirement and tranquillity, nevertheless a moral responsibility
required him to unite all government in his own person, and he therefore
declared himself "Protector of Peru," with Don Juan Garcia del Rio, Don
Bernardo Monteagudo, and Don Hipolito Unanue, as his three ministers of
state.

Being at the time on board the flag-ship, I knew nothing of this
proclamation; but as the squadron had not been paid their twelve months'
wages, nor the 50,000 dollars promised by General San Martin, I went on
shore on the 4th of August, to make the demand on behalf of the
squadron, the seamen having served their time. Being ignorant of the
self-imposed title which General San Martin had assumed, I frankly
asked him to devise some means for defraying these payments.

I forbear personally to relate what passed at this interview; but as my
secretary was present, and on his return to England published an account
thereof, which is in every respect substantially true, I will give it in
his words:--

"On the following morning, August 4th, Lord Cochrane, uninformed
of the change which had taken place in the title of San
Martin, visited the palace, and began to beg of the General in
Chief to propose some means for the payment of the foreign seamen,
who had served their time and fulfilled their contract. To this,
San Martin answered, that 'he would never pay the Chilian
squadron unless it was sold to Peru, and then the payment should
be considered part of the purchase money!' To this Lord Cochrane
replied, that 'by such a transaction the squadron of Chili
would be transferred to Peru by merely paying what was due to the
officers and crews for services done to that state.' San Martin knit
his brows, and turning to his two ministers, Garcia and Monteagudo,
ordered them to retire, to which his Lordship objected, stating that
'as he was not master of the Spanish language, he wished them to
remain as interpreters, fearful that some expression, not rightly
understood, might be considered offensive.' San Martin now turned
round to the Admiral, and said--'Are you aware, my Lord, that I
am Protector of Peru?'--'No,'--said his Lordship