secret of his indignation at the usurpation which had taken place,
despite all the promises of Chili, declared "before God and man"--as
well as those of the Protector himself, to "leave the Peruvians free as
regarded their own choice of Government." As the honest prelate
denounced, in no measured terms, the despotism which had been
established in the place of the liberty guaranteed, it was determined
to get rid of him.

The first step was an order to the Archbishop, dated August 22, 1821, to
close all the houses of spiritual exercises. This was politely refused;
but, at the same time, the prelate stated, that if any confessor
disturbed public order, he would take the requisite measures for his
punishment. On the 27th, the Archbishop was told in reply, that "the
Protector's orders were irrevocable, and he must at once decide on the
line of conduct he intended to adopt."

On the 1st of September, the prelate, in an admirable letter, told the
Protector, that "the principal obligation of a bishop was to defend the
deposit of doctrine and faith which had been confided to him, and, if
threatened by any great potentate, to remonstrate with respect and
submission, to the end that he might not be a participator in crime by a
cowardly condescension. God had constituted bishops as the pastors and
guards of the flock, and he tells us, that we are not to be cowards in
the presence of the greatest potentates on earth, but, if necessary, we
must shed our blood, and lay down our lives, in so just a cause;
anathematizing us, on the contrary, as dumb dogs who do not bark when
the spiritual health of the flock is in danger."

The end of this was, that the Protector urged on the Archbishop to
resign, promising him a vessel to convey him to Panama; relying on which