d
in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, to render invaluable service to
the young republic.

He promptly accepted the invitation, being induced thereto by many
sufficient reasons. Sick at heart, as we have seen, under the cruel
treatment to which for so many years he had been subjected by his
enemies in power, he saw here an opportunity of, at the same
time, escaping from his persecutors, returning to active work in
a profession very dear to him, and giving efficient aid to a noble
enterprise.

CHAPTER VII.

LORD COCHRANE'S VOYAGE TO CHILI.--HIS RECEPTION AT VALPARAISO AND
SANTIAGO.--THE DISORGANIZATION OF THE CHILIAN FLEET.--FIRST SIGNS
OF DISAFFECTION.--THE NAVAL FORCES OF THE CHILIANS AND THE
SPANIARDS.--LORD COCHRANE'S FIRST EXPEDITION TO PERU.--HIS ATTACK ON
CALLAO.--"DRAKE THE DRAGON" AND "COCHRANE THE DEVIL."--LORD COCHRANE'S
SUCCESSES IN OVERAWING THE SPANIARDS, IN TREASURE-TAKING, AND
IN ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PERUVIANS TO JOIN IN THE WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE.--HIS PLAN FOE ANOTHER ATTACK ON CALLAO.--HIS
DIFFICULTIES IN EQUIPPING THE EXPEDITION.--THE FAILURE OF
THE ATTEMPT.--HIS PLAN FOR STORMING VALDIVIA.--ITS SUCCESSFUL
ACCOMPLISHMENT.

[1818-1820.]

Having accepted, in May, 1817, the offer conveyed to him by the
Chilian Government through Don Jose Alvarez, Lord Cochrane's departure
from England was delayed for more than a year. This was chiefly on
account of the war-steamer, the _Rising Star_, which it was arranged
to build and equip in London under his superintendence. But the work
proceeded so slowly, in consequence of the difficulty experienced by
Alvarez in raising the requisite funds, that, at last, Lord Cochrane,
being urgently needed in South America, where the Spaniards were
steadily gaining ground, was requested to leave the superintendence
of the _Rising Star_ in other hands, and to cross the Atlantic without
her.

Accompanied by Lady Cochrane and his two children, he went first from
Rye to Boulogne, and there, on the 15th of August, 1818, embarked in
the _Rose_, a merchantman which had formerly been a warsloop. The long
voyage was uninteresting until Cape Horn was reached. There, and in
passing along the rugged coast-line of Tierra del Fuego, Lord Cochrane
was struck by its wild scenery. He watched the lazy penguins that
crowded on the rocks, among evergreens that showed brightly amid the
imposing mass of snow, and caught with hooks the lazier sea-pigeons
that skimmed the heavy waves and