The National Register.
London, England, 1821-11-18 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF LIMA.

By the Goo I Inicat, arrived in the Downs,'letters
and papers to the sth of Sept. have been receive
from Buenos Ayres, communicating the important
intelligence of the fall of Lima. The tbllowing are
extracts from private letters received by that con-
veyance:—
" BUENOS AIRES. SEPT. have hardly time
to acquaint you with the glorious news of the capture
of Lima by Gen. San Martin.
"The official accounts are not yet arrived, in con-
sequence of a heavy 01 of snow in the Andes just
after the express laid passed.
" The capture of Lima by force of arms being
announced, may create SWIM alarm to persons in-
terested in that city : it ought, however, to be ob-
served, that Lima is not a fortress likely to be tarn
by assault; but that it is much more probable that
the obstinacy of the Sj.anish authorities forced Gen.
San Martin to approach Lima, when a last attempt
would be made by the troops remaining under the
banners of the Viceroy, to repel the Cnilion, army:
this having failed, the latter would march into the
city without resistance and without a previous capi-
tulation. It is, however, to be hoped that strict
discipline was observed, as the great muss of the po-
pulation of Lima would receive the Chilians us
friends and liberators; and as it always had been the
object of the Government of Chili, and of Gen. San
Martin, to preserve Lima from a violent transition
to independence, and from the coinmotions attendant
on a temporary suspension of law and policy in a
town in which the lower classes are dreaded by the
wealthy."
" &limos AIRES, Sem 4.—On the 2d inst.
we received the important intelligence of the cap-
ture of Lima by the forces of Gen. San Martin, by
a letter from Santiago de Chili, dated I eith August;
and although the details have nut yet arrived, still
no doubt is entertained of the filet from the previous
well-known distressed state they were in trout want
of provisions, the divisions that existed, and from
San Martin having retuned to prolong the armistice.
The official details arc hourly expected; the Mar,
will sail for Liverpool in the course of the week, and
by that time we probably shalt have the fullest in-
formation.'

The following extract fr.= a Buenos Ayres
Gazette of the 29th of August, conveys some inter.
e: sing details of the previous state of Lima, which
acquire additional value, in the absence of the official
account, from the increased probability they give to
its actual surrender. In a question involving com-
mercial interests of such high importance, too much
caution cannot be exercised in forming a correct
judgment of the real situation of attars :
" SANTIAGO DE CHILI, JULY 17.—1 n consequence
of the arrival of the English frigate commanded by
Capt. Spencer, at Valparaiso, we learn by an extra-
ordinary courier, who arrived here on the 15th, at
seven at night, the following news, which is con-
firmed by the papers published at Lima, and by
private letters, viz.—That by virtue of the armistice
concluded between the Viceroy Laterna and General
San Martin, prolonged fur nine days more, the for-
mer proposes to the latter that all the towns which
are now in the power of the army of Chili shall
remain under the command of General San Martin;
that Lima shall continue in its present situation
without any change in its government; that both
parties shall name their respective deputies, who
shall proceed to Spain to obtain the ratification of
independence, for which purpose there shall be an
amnesty for the space of I S months, reckoning from
the date of its conclusion ; the fortress of Callao, of
which San Martin's forces have obtained possession,
remaining a pledge until the return of the said de-
puties: trade and communications to be in the mean
time free. That San :slartiii, who did nut agree to
these propositions, demanded the surrender of the
capital, upon which being done, he would allow a
free communication, and wait for the determination
of the deputies who were to go to Spain ; that
during the time of the negotiations, San Martin had
permitted the necessary provisions to enter Lima ;
that his troops were advancing from some points
which they occupied upon tile capital with the design
of besieging it more closely.
" The public papers of Lima which I have seen
in the house of Col. Pereira, contain a representation
from the Secular Chapter to the Viceroy, describing
the evils with which the capital is threatened by
the destructive war carrying on. It dwells on the
devastation alit,. country to the extent of 25 leagues
in circuinti;rence; the division of public opinion;
the discontent of the natives in consequence of the
scArcity ; and the Lei essity of coming to an under-
standing with the besieging force, by which alone
his Excellency could preserve his authority. The
result of this representation is not known. There
is also in these papers a letter signed by a military
officer, )(tinting out to Lacerna the resources of
which lie might avail himselt; and stating plans of
defence. 'lnc writer culls loudly for the combat,
and instigates a v:guruus resistance. What may

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

have been done in consequence of this energetic ex-
position
is not yet known.
" According to the letter of Guido, which I have
seen, written on board the frigate Cleopatra, in Cal-
lao, where the deputies of both parties are assem-
bled, L. K. says that they would again resort to
arms, but that Lima must surrender in consequence
of the division among the authorities, the discontent
of the natives, the forces with which it is surround-
ed, and its being deprived of all support. D. Q. E.,
who also writes from Calico to the English com-
mander, states that Lacerna had assured him, in the
vessel which he then was, that in consequence of the
divisions in Lima, and the want of aid, no other re-
source was left but that of making an arrangement
beneficial to both the contending parties. The Cap-
tain of the English frigate arrived at Valparaiso fur
slier adds, that the longest period which Lima can
hold out is one month, or at most two, tbr the peo-
ple proclaim their dissatisfaction, the military chiefs
arc divided, and the troops of Lima are deserting
daily to the invading army."