Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/33

Rh this ship, and particularly for the last eight or ten weeks. Owing to the unsettled state of affairs in Guayaquil, we were compelled to stay there, as long as affairs wore a doubtful aspect, in order to protect our commerce against any outrages that might have been committed. On the 10th of last month we were alarmed by the cry of ''"Viva la patria!" "Viva Guayaquil!"'' and on going on shore to find from whence these exclamations came, we found the whole city in arms, and drawn out in order of battle, one party headed by the brother of the other's leader. They proceeded to banish all firm friends to the Libertador. Matters remained in this state for about eighteen hours; when, after a little bloodshed, one party declared in favour of the Libertador, and permitted the other, called the rebels, to leave the country. They have since joined the Peruvians. A wise piece of policy, indeed, for it is expected that the two nations will have a difference, not far from open hostilities, so soon as Bolivar shall quell all disturbances in Colombia. He is now on his way from Bogotá to Guayaquil. The conjectures concerning what course he will take are many, and widely different from each other; but the most probable one is, that unless Peru will make proper concessions, he will adopt measures to unite Peru and Colombia under the Government of the latter. We took the Colombian Minister to Peru from Lima to Guayaquil, where we were compelled to leave him, not that the Peruvians had any objection to the man himself, but to the Colombian Minister. The Libertador is very unpopular in Lima, though, should he come to Peru, I should not be surprised to hear a universal acclamation of "Viva el Libertador!" such is the fickle disposition of the natives of South America.

Your next please direct to the care of the Secretary of the Navy, by which means I shall always be sure of receiving it sooner than by any other route. Remember me to all my old acquaintances; and believe me to be always yours, &c,