interest took place till the 5th of August, when I became
acquainted with his Excellency's installation, and when, in your
presence, he uttered sentiments that struck a thrill through my
frame, which no subsequent act, nor protestation of intentions, has
been able to mitigate. Did he not say--aye, did you not hear him
declare, that he would never pay the debt to Chili, nor that due to
the navy, unless Chili would sell the squadron to Peru? What
would you have thought of me as an officer, sworn to be faithful to
the state of Chili, had I listened to such language in cold, calculating
silence, weighing my decision in the scale of personal interest?
No, Sir, the promise of San Martin, that "my fortune should be
equal to his own," will not warp from the path of honour

Your obedient, humble Servant,
COCHRANE.

After a lapse of nearly forty years' anxious consideration, I cannot
reproach myself with having done any wrong in the seizure of the money
of the Protectoral Government. General San Martin and myself had been,
in our respective departments, deputed to liberate Peru from Spain, and
to give to the Peruvians the same free institutions which Chili herself
enjoyed. The first part of our object had been fully effected by the
achievements and vigilance of the squadron; the second part was
frustrated by General San Martin arrogating to himself despotic power,
which set at naught the wishes and voice of the people. As "my fortune
in common with his own" was only to be secured by acquiescence in the
wrong he had done to Chili by casting off his allegiance to her, and by
upholding him in the still greater wrong he was inflicting on Peru, I
did not choose to sacrifice my self-esteem and professional character by
lending myself as an instrument to purposes so unworthy. I did all in my
power to warn General San Martin of the consequences of ambition so
ill-directed, but the warning was neglected, if not despised. Chili
trusted to him to defray the expenses of the squadron when its
objects--as laid down by the Supreme Director--should be accomplished;
but in place of fulfilling the obligation, he permitted the squadron to
starve, its crews to go in rags, and the ships to be in perpetual danger
for want of the proper equipment which Chili could not afford to give
them when they sailed from Valparaiso. The pretence for this neglect was
want of means, though at the same time money to a vast amo