the harbour."

"This loss was a death-blow to the Spanish naval force in that quarter
of the world; for, although there were still two Spanish frigates and
some smaller vessels in the Pacific, they never afterwards ventured to
shew themselves, but left Lord Cochrane undisputed master of the coast."

On the morning of the 6th a horrible massacre was committed on shore.
The market-boat of the United States frigate was, as usual, sent for
provisions, when the mob took it into their heads that the _Esmeralda_
could not have been cut out without the assistance of the _Macedonian_,
and, falling upon the boat's crew, murdered the whole of them.

The wounded amongst the _Esmeralda's_ crew were sent on shore under a
flag of truce, a letter from me to the Viceroy proposing an exchange of
prisoners being at the same time transmitted. The proposal was this time
civilly acceded to, and the whole were sent on shore; the Chilian
prisoners, who had long languished in the dungeons of the fortress,
being returned, and ordered to join the army of General San Martin.

On transmitting the intelligence of our success to General San Martin, I
received from him the following acknowledgment of the achievement:--


_10th November, 1820._
"My Lord,"


"The importance of the service you have rendered to the
country by the capture of the frigate _Esmeralda_, and the brilliant