Mr. Robinson to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The revolution is an accomplished fact. The government of General Pezet is deposed. He left Lima on the 26th of October and placed himself at the head of the government forces encamped at Lurin, a distance of seven leagues from Lima, where he was strongly intrenched. Some flank movements executed by the revolutionary army obliged him to retire to within some eight miles of the capital, which it was his purpose to protect, and the latter occupied his deserted camp. On the afternoon of Sunday, the 5th, the forces of General Canseco commenced their march upon Lima, again flanking both wings of the government army and placing themselves between the latter and the city, which they entered at half past three the following morning, having performed a march of twenty-one miles over a desert country, skirmished at Chorilloo, and stormed and carried the Gaudaloupe gate of the capital. They immediately advanced for the Plaza, or great square. At a distance of a block and a half, nearly in front of the legation, a battalion formed for the assault upon the palace or government houses, and the attack was sounded at four o’clock a. m. As they entered the Plaza, they were met by the celadores, or armed policemen trained [Page 618] as infanty. After some desperate fighting, the latter were driven from their position, and the assault was immediately made upon the palace. This was defended with artillery, supported by two or three battalions of selected troops. Here the contest was severe and bloody, the walls furnishing a strong protection to its defenders. The battle continued till half past nine a. m., when it was surrendered, and General Canseco was in possession of the city and the archives of the government. The next day the army of General Pezet, after various movements, and threatening an attack upon the city, marched to Callao. These movements were designed to favor the escape of General Pezet and some of his ministers on board of some foreign ships of war in the bay of the port. This they accomplished, and Callao is now in possession of General Canseco, and the contest ended.
The revolutionary chief made admirable arrangements to prevent any depredations upon private property or injury to persons. Immediately after the battle, as well as during it, his troops were patrolling the streets of the capital and preventing those disorders which accompany so often and follow these revolutions. I regret to be obliged to say that the same good order was not observed in Callao. Here, on the Monday night succeeding the taking of the capital, great excesses were committed, the revolutionary army not having possession of the city, but being under the control of the Pezet government. General Rivas, the prefect, whose duty it was to protect the city from the ravages of the mob or disbanded soldiery, deserted his post to seek an asylum on board of the Spanish frigate Numancia, and the place was virtually surrendered to the populace. Stores were broken into, sacked and plundered, and the robbery was only stayed by the formation of citizens under the direction of the municipality into guards. Among the losers by this wholesale pilfering are some American citizens. One was a Mr. Reutlinger, who had a small jewelry store, and was a repairer of watches and chronometers, &c.; his shop, I understand, was completely emptied. The other was a Mr. Josephson, who had a very extensive clothing store, and a heavy and valuable stock of goods. Every article was taken from the warehouse, not even leaving the shelves.
After the formation of the citizen guards, some of the stolen property was recovered, and many persons in whose possession it was found have been arrested and will be prosecuted and punished. It is also announced in the Comercio that a commission had been appointed by the municipality of Callao, composed of the alcalde and two merchants, to examine the books of the merchants who were robbed, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of the damages they suffered.
The conclusion of the war is a subject of the most hearty congratulation among all classes of citizens, and the deposition of General Pezet and his cabinet is hailed with unanimous acclamations of joy.
It is universally conceded that among the bad administrations under which Peru has suffered, his was incomparably the worst.
His cabinet were known to be open and avowed monarchists, and the government in its disregard of the constitution, the statute laws, and the decisions of the courts, and in its atrocious abuse of the personal and political rights of the citizens, finds no parallel in the history of the country.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.