did--to retire
unmolested with the whole.

Foiled in this attempt to relieve the necessities of the squadron,
whilst the Protector's Government pertinaciously refused to supply them,
it was impossible to keep the men from mutiny; even the officers--won
over by Guise and Spry, who paid midnightly visits to the ships for the
purpose--began to desert to the Protectoral Government.

The following letter, addressed to Monteagudo, will shew the state of
the matter as regarded the squadron:--

Most Excellent Sir,

I have written you an official letter to-day, by which
you will perceive that the consequences which I have long predicted
will have so far come to pass, as to render the removal of the
large ships of the squadron indispensable. If by a total neglect
of all I tell the Protectoral Government through you, things happen
prejudicial to the service, the Protector and yourself will at least do
me the justice to feel that I have done my duty; the base,
interested, and servile, for the promotion of their selfish views, may
clamour, but I regard them not.

I would send you the _original_ reports of the provisions and state
of the ships issued by the captains, but I must hold these for my
public justification, should such be necessary.

What is the meaning of all this, Monteagudo? Are these people
so base as to be determined to force the squadron to mutiny? And
are there others so blind as not to foresee the consequences? Ask
Sir Thomas Hardy, and the British captains, or any other officers,
what will be the result of such monstrous measures.

Believe me, with a heavy heart,

Yours, &c.

COCHRANE.

CHAPTER VIII.

PROLONGED DESTITUTION OF SQUADRON--THE MEN MUTINY IN A BODY--THE
SEAMEN'S LETTERS--SAN MARTIN SENDS AWAY THE PUBLIC TREASURE--MY SEIZURE
OF IT--PRIVATE PROPERTY RESTORED--SAN MARTIN'S ACCUSATIONS AGAINST
ME--THE SQUADRON PAID WAGES--ATTEMPT ON THE OFFICERS' FIDELITY--I AM
ASKED TO DESERT FROM CHILI--ORDERED TO QUIT ON REFUSAL--MONTEAGUDO'S
LETTER--MY REPLY--JUSTIFICATION OF SEIZING THE TREASURE--NO OTHER COURSE
POSSIBLE.

Previous to this time I had on board the flag-ship the unexpended
portion of the money captured at Arica, but as the Chilian Government,
trusting to Peru to supply the wants of the squadron, neither sent funds
or provisions, I was compelled to spend for our subsistence the
uncondemned portion of the prize money be