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CHAPTER XIV.

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CONTENTS.

SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT THE OBJECT OF RULERS-END OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR-
GENERAL BOLIVAR DICTATOR-HIS AUTHORITY CEASES-GENERAL LA MAR ELECTED
- GAMARRA'S TREACHERY-LA MAR ARRESTED AND BANISHED-GAMARRA AND
LAFUENTE ELECTED-ATTEMPTS TO SEIZE LAFUENTE-HIS ESCAPE-EXECUTION OF
MAJOR ROSEL-CONVENTION CONVOKED-GAMARRA RESIGNS-ORBEJOSO ELECTED—
REVOLUTION BY BERMUDEZ AND GAMARRA-BERMUDEZ CAPTURED -ORBEJOSO'S
AUTHORITY RESTORED-SALAVERRY REVOLTS-DECLARES HIMSELF SUPREME DIC
TATOR-UNITES WITH GAMARRA-GAMARRA DEFEATED-ARRESTED BY SALAVERRY
AND BANISHED-SALAVERRY MARCHES AGAINST SANTA CRUZ-BATTLE OF SOCA-
BAYA-SALAVERRY DEFEATED - TAKEN PRISONER-TRIED AND SHOT-ORBEJOSO
REINSTATED-TREATY WITH CHILI NULLIFIED - SANTA CRUZ'S INTRIGUES — DIS-
MEMBERMENT OF PERU-ASSEMBLY OF SICUANI-SANTA CRUZ NAMED SUPREME
PROTECTOR-CONVENTION OF HUARA-GENERAL FREYRE FITS OUT AN EXPEDITION
- CHILIAN CONSUL-GENERAL EVADES THE EMBARGO SEIZURE OF PERUVIAN
VESSELS-NEGOTIATION-CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES-INVASION OF ALTA PERU

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DISASTROUS CAMPAIGN-TREATY OF PEACE-RETURN OF CHILIAN ARMY-CHILIAN
GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RATIFY THE TREATY-LEGION OF HONOUR-DISCONTENT
AT SANTA CRUZ'S POLICY-WAR AGAIN COMMENCED-EXPEDITION FROM CHILI —
INVASION OF PERU-BATTLE OF LIMA-LIMA TAKEN-ORBEJOSO ESCAPES-GAMARRA
NAMED PRESIDENT-SANTA CRUZ MARCHES UPON LIMA-CHILIANS EMBARK-LAND
AT HUARA-PURSUED BY SANTA CRUZ-BATTLE OF YUNGAI-SANTA CRUZ TOTALLY
DEFEATED-ESCAPES TO LIMA-THENCE TO AREQUIPA-SEEKS REFUGE ON BOARD
A BRITISH SHIP OF WAR-BULNES SAILS AGAIN FOR CALLAO — DISEMBARKS HIS
TROOPS-TAKES POSSESSION OF LIMA-CONGRESS CONVOKED-GAMARRA ELECTED
PRESIDENT-RESULTS OF BATTLE OF YUNGAI-BULNES WITH HIS ARMY RETURNS
TO CHILI-GAMARRA GOES TO AID BOLIVIA-HIS FORCES ROUTED, AND HIMSELF
KILLED-CHARACTER OF BOLIVAR-LA MAR-GAMARRA-LAFUENTE-ORBEJOSO
SALAVERRY-SANTA CRUZ-HIS ACTS-COMMERCE-PERU AND CHILI — IMPORTS-
EXPORTS-TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

CHAPTER XIV.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF PERU.

1839.

THE history of Peru, during the last twenty years, is involved in even more obscurity than that of Chili. This arises from the frequent change of rulers, and the consequent alterations in policy and government. The history may be said to be merged in biographical memoirs of its several rulers, who have, without an exception, acted for selfaggrandizement, without ever looking to the benefit of their country, its peace, or happiness. They have, in their public decrees and acts, been lavish and prodigal of the words honour, liberty, justice, &c., in order to extol themselves, and decry their opponents. Yet, without exception, the moment they have attained power, they have pursued the very course they before reprobated, and the country has continued to suffer.

The victory of Ayacucho, gained by General Sucre in December, 1824, put an end to the war of the revolution, and placed the whole country in the possession of the patriots, with the exception of Callao. On the surrender of that fortress, January 7th, 1826, Spanish authority ceased to exist in South America. General Bolivar was at this time President of Colombia, and Dictator of Peru, invested as the latter with constitutional powers, but exercising unlimited authority. Through his means and the troops of Colombia, the liberation of Peru had been effected; and after that event, many of these troops were quartered in Lima, much to the annoyance of the Peruvians, who were anxious to get rid of the military, and the expense of maintaining them. Their presence, and the cost of supporting them, became the more odious, because it was believed they were retained to support the arbitrary power of the Dictator. In the beginning of the year 1827, the Peruvians, through their intrigues, effected a revolt among the Colombian

troops, who made prisoners of their officers, put an end to the authority of the Dictator Bolivar, and freed Peru from the presence, as well as the expense, of foreign troops.

Immediately after this event, General La Mar was elected and proclaimed President of Peru. He was a native of Guayaquil, reputed to be a mild and just man, had been brought up in the Spanish army, and was attached to General San Martin; but he appears to have been ill adapted to rule over such a people as the Peruvians. At first his election was popular, and his name took the place of that of Bolivar over all the gates, &c., in the City of Kings.

At this change every demonstration of joy was witnessed. The Colombian troops were sent to the neighbourhood of Guayaquil, when they attempted a revolution against the Colombian authorities in Guaymas and Quito, (about forming the republic of Equador,) in which they were partially successful, but were soon put down by General Flores. These acts led to hostilities between Colombia and Peru, and in the beginning of 1828, La Mar marched to the frontiers of Colombia, without any declaration of war, with a part of the Peruvian forces, leaving General Gamarra, a native of Cusco, who had been the cause of so much revolution and bloodshed in Peru, to follow with a second. division of Peruvian troops. At this time General Santa Cruz (who had been for a short time President of Peru,) was President of Bolivia, and he, together with Gamarra and Lafuente, conspired to overthrow La Mar, after which Santa Cruz was to be proclaimed President of Peru, Gamarra Vice-President, and Lafuente Minister of War.

With this plan in view, Gamarra joined La Mar on the frontiers of Colombia. The battle of Portete took place soon afterwards, when, in consequence of the treachery or cowardice of Gamarra, the Peruvians were beaten, and capitulated on the field of battle to General Sucre, who was opposed to them with a much inferior force of Colombians. A treaty was signed, but was soon violated by the Peruvians, and hostilities again commenced. Another division of the Peruvian army, one thousand five hundred strong, which had been acting in Bolivia, embarked from Arica, under Lafuente, to join La Mar, in the north. They arrived at Callao, and were disembarked against La Mar's orders, and shortly after Lafuente overthrew the government at Lima, whilst Gamarra arrested La Mar in the north, and banished him to Costa Rica, in Central America, where he shortly afterwards died.

Lafuente ejected all the officials, and assumed the government in the name of Gamarra.

Gamarra and Lafuente, having thus secured the army and govern

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