i6o A HISTORY OF CHILE tired of the factional disputes and the arbitrary rule of the Carreras. But such men as Osorio's infamous lieutenant, San Bruno, Sergeant Villalobos and subse- quentl)', Marco del Ponte, who was sent out by Fer- dinand VII. to succeed Osorio as captain-general, soon prepared the Chileans for renewed efforts to accom- plish their independence. Don Marco del Ponte was the last of the Chilean viceroys, and his deceit, rapa- city and cruelty knew no bounds. Osorio reestablished the Royal Audience,renewed the cabildo and suppressed the public library and the National Institution, or uni- versity. Marco del Ponte established a tribunal which he called the Tribunal of Vigilance and Public Security, and placed over it the ferocious San Bruno. He also suspended the execution of the pardon the king had sent in favor of the exiles in Mendoza. Like Israel's children in bondage, the patriots of Chile looked for a deliverer, and he came from across the mountains. Buenos Ayres saw that to maintain her own indepen- dence in security, Chile and Peru must be free. She had enabled the provinces of Cujo, Cordovo, Santa F6, the Banda Oriental (Uruguay), Entre Rios (Paraguay), Tucuman and Rioja to free themselves from Spanish domination ; Chile had assisted her when Jonte had solicited aid, she would now listen to the supplica- tions of the exiled patriots at Mendoza. She was wag- ing a war against the royalists in Salta, Jujaj', Potosi and Upper Peru ; she would now create a diversion in Chile and by so doing diminish the Spanish strength in Upper Peru. The hero of San Lorenzo was given the matter in hand. Don Jos^ de San Martin was at this time governor of the province of Cujo and at Mendoza. He had ob- tained his military education in the war with France, having fought in the battle of Bailen. This "Hanni-
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