Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-09-15

anu teTTdplns, lot WHICH tnese lsidtlus are
celebrated.
Since our arrival in these seas. our
whole crew has enjoyed degree ofhealih
| never before witnessed on hoard any
ship we have, at present, but two men on
the sick list, one of them from wound by
the accidental discharge OF a musket, from
which he has nearly recovered. Our ship
is in fine order and good discipline, ard
We have every prospect of pleasant and
valuable cruize.--I think it probable that
! we shall be absent at least two years from
the time of our last sailing from Norfo k,
by which time think | may, with com
mon exertions, calculate on obtaining a
considerable knowledge of my protp: sion
As you will no doub. feel ratified with
an accouu, of what has lately occurred in
this quarter, | will strive - give you as
correct an idea of It as | myself possess
In my last letter gave you to understand
that the re mains of the 4 ryal forces, after
the battle of Maipo had retrealcd towards
the mountains TINT proportion of The Pa.
triot Amy WAS occupied in watching them !;
and that the remainder, to the amount of
several thousands, were encamped at the
foot of the Andes. The Tetrealing Royal
lists have since been overlaken, and with
the exception OF their commander, who es-
capped with very small body Of followers,
have L"en entirely destroyed by battle or
desertion. The Royalists have at present
possession of no part OF Chill, excepting
the fortress of Valdivia, in thu mountains,
which cut off from all communication " it'll
old Spain, is cons dered OF so little conse-
quence as TO be scarcely ever mentioned.
| also stated in my former letter to you,
that the CHILEAN squadron, under the com.
mand of their Admiral, Lord CoChrane,
had proceeded off Lima, and in the event
OF successful attack on the Royal naval
force, was to return to this port for the ar
my, III concert with which an attack was
contemplated ON Lima. ] he British fri
gate AndronIache, which has just arrived
from Lima. with Judge Provost on board,
fell in with Lord Cochrane within twenty
leagues Of Callao. the port OF the capital o.
Peru, the 18th February and we learn by
her that an immediate attack was contem-
plated on the shipping in the harbor. Judge
Provost states that the Royal squadron was
partly dismantled and moored IN situa.
ton easy to be assailed. The Patriot force
consists Of an lndiaman, mounting 60 guns:
one frigate Of 81, another of 48. and a brig
of22 The Royal squadron consists of two
frigates and tw" s!oops. There is no doubt
OF Lord Cochrane's having made dash al
the batteries and squadron long before this,
but the result cannot be known at this
place for several weeks, as il generally
takes The fastest sailing vessels month to
beat up from Lima to this port against the
soulheriy winds, which constantly prevail
on the coast. Thus you find the Royal
cause is entirely lost IN Chill, and that the
ChIlians themselves are about attacking
neighboriug province. In this situation
their military affairs at present stand.-
Their civil regulations, as mentioned in
a former letter, amount to nOthlng-he
bayonet is The only law, and the comman-
der OF the armies, therefore, rules every
thing. Government has no money, and the
troops have received no pay for several
months past; and there IS no telling how
long they may be willing to serve on such
terms. | tear It will not be long betn-e
this country becomes Involved in a civil war
more biouuy than the one lately waged
with SO much glory. Thus may be delayed
by Cochrane's success, but must take place
before long. Discomfort rears her head
every where, and su.plcion, followed by
cruelty and oppression, already appears.
1t is but lately, that ljrge number Of
Spanish off GERS, taken at MaIpo, were shot
without even the form OF a trial, under a
plea of contemplated rise on the Cover
nor and guards, in a town where they quar-.
tered-a part Of these officers were put to
death, while in lhe act OF attacking the per.
son of the Governor. by the citizens and
soldiery, vino ON the, alarm. rushed lulnul-
tuously into the paiace-this was oi course
to be expected; but shortly after, NUNS
Der OF the principal Spanish officers were
drawn out and shot, without trial-among
them was the I'd I'D command on the bloody