revulsion must take place; but as no one knew, or could guess, what its extent might prove, every one deemed the crisis full of danger and difficulty. The timorous were distracted by the wildest fears; the bold and steady knew not how to apply their courage; and the irresolute were left in the most pitiable state; but the strangers, unwilling to offend either side, did wisely by putting a good face on the matter, and taking their chance * * * * * *. On every successive day things became worse; and towards the close of the week, the terrors of the people, assuming the character of despair, it was utterly useless to reason with them, or to at. tempt impressing upon their minds the value of calmness and patience at such an alarming moment.
“On the 5th of July, the Viceroy issued a proclamation, announcing his intention of abandoning the city, and pointing to Callao as an asylum for those who felt themselves insecure in the capital. This was the signal for immediate flight: a rush was made towards the castle by multitudes, who, when questioned as to their reasons for leaving the city, could give none but that of fear; and, indeed, the majority acted from mere panic, which spread amongst them in the most extraordinary manner. I had gone to the ship in the morning, but hearing that the capital was certainly to be deserted by the Royalists next day, and wishing to be near the British merchants, whom I had recommended, come what might, to stay by their property in Lima, I landed, and proceeded along the Callao road. It was with no small difficulty that I could make head against the crowd of fugitives coming in the opposite direction: groups of people on foot, in carts, on horseback, hurried past; men, women, and children, with horses and mules, and numbers of slaves laden with baggage and other valuables, travelled indiscriminately along, and all was outcry and confusion.
“In the city itself the consternation was excessive; the men were pacing about in fearful doubt what was to be done; the women were flying in all directions towards the convents; and the narrow streets were literally choked up with loaded waggons and mules, and mounted horsemen. All night long the confusion continued; and at day break the Viceroy marched out with his troops, not leaving even a single sentinel over the powder magazine. Up to this moment many people, with a strange degree of incredulity, arising out of long cherished prejudice and pride, would not believe that such events were possible: when the moment actually arrived, their despair became immeasurable, and they fled away like the rest. Fur an hour or two after the Viceroy’s departure the streets were filled with fugitives; but by mid-day scarcely an individual was to be seen; and in the course of the afternoon I accompanied one of the English merchants, during a walk of more than a mile, through the most populous parts of Lima, without meeting a single individual: the doors were all barred, the window-shutters dosed, and it really seemed ‘some vast city of the dead.’”
Captain Hall was at Callao, when a deputation of the prin-
