care to keep it apprised of everything which had transpired, exercising
the most scrupulous care in furnishing accounts of monies and stores
taken from the Spaniards, but especially as regarded the public money of
the Peruvian Government appropriated at Ancon.

The return of the squadron was announced by me to the Government in the
following letter:--

The anxious desires of His Excellency the Supreme Director
are now fulfilled, and the sacrifices of the Chilian people are
rewarded. The naval power of Spain in the Pacific has succumbed
and is extinguished, the following vessels having surrendered to
the unceasing efforts of the squadron of this Free State:--

_Prueba_, 50 guns; _Esmeralda_, 44; _Venganza_, 44; _Resolution_, 34;
_Sebastiana_, 34; _Pesuela_, 18; _Potrillo_, 16; _Prosperina_ 14;
_Arausasu_; seventeen gun-boats; the armed ships _Aguila_ and
_Begonia_; the block ships at Callao; and many merchantmen.

It is highly gratifying to me, after labouring under such difficulties
as were never before witnessed on board ships of war, to announce
the arrival of the Chilian squadron in Valparaiso--its cradle; where,
owing to its unceasing services in the cause of liberty and independence
of Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, it forms an object
of admiration and gratitude to the inhabitants of the New World.

(Signed) COCHRANE.

By the inhabitants of Valparaiso our return was hailed with every
manifestation of delight, almost every house in the place being