,68 L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
next morning difcovered the Ifland o f Fernandes, where, the following
day, both we and our prize came to an anchor.
And here I cannot omit one remarkable incident which occurred,
when the prize and her crew came into the bay, where
the reft o f the fquadron lay. The Spaniards in the Carmelo had
been fufficiently informed of the diftreffes we had gone through,
and were greatly furprifed that we had ever furmounted them;
hut, when they faw the Tryal Sloop at anchor, they were ftill
more aftonilhed, that, after all our fatigues, we had the induftry
(besides refitting our other lhips) to complete fuch a veflel in fo
Ihort a time; they taking it for granted, that we had built her
upon the fpot: nor was it without great difficulty they were at
laft prevailed on to believe, that fhe came from England with
the reft o f the fquadron; they long infilling, that it was im-
pofiible fuch a bawble as that could paft round Cape Horn, when
the heft lhips of Spain were obliged to put back.
By the time we arrived at Juan Fernandes, the letters found
on board our prize were more minutely examined : and it appearing
from them, and from the account o f our prifoners, that
feveral other Merchantmen were bound from Callao to Valparaiso,
Mr. Anfon difpatched the Tryal Sloop,' the very next
morning, to cruife off the laft-mentioned Port, reinforcing her
with ten hands from on board his own Ihip. Mr. Anfon like-
wife refolved, on the intelligence recited above, to feparate the
lhips under his command, and employ them in diftinft cruizes;
as he thought, that by this means we lhould not only increafe our
chance for prizes, but that we lhould likewife run a left rifque of
alarming the coaft, and of being difcovered. And now the Ipirits
o f our people being greatly raifed, and their delpondency diffi-
pated by this earned: o f fuccefs, they forgot all their pall dif-
treffes, and relumed their wonted alacrity, and laboured inde-
fatigably in completing our water, receiving our lumber, and in
preparing to take our farewel o f the Ifland : but as thefe occupations
took us up four or five days, with all our induftry, the
Commodore, in that interval, diredted that the guns belonging to
the
R O U N D T H E WO R L D . i 69
the Anna Fink, being four fix-pounders, four four-pounders, and
two fwivels, lhould be mounted on board the Carmelo, our prize:
and, having fent on board the Gloucefter fix paffengers, and twenty-
three feamen, to alfift in navigating the Ihip, he diredted Captain
Mitchel to leave the Ifland as foon as polfible, the fervice demanding
the utmoft difpatch, ordering him to proceed to the latitude
of five degrees South, and there to cruize off the highland of
Paita, at fuch a diftance from Ihore as lhould prevent his being
difcovered. On this Ration he was to continue till he lhould be
joined by the Commodore, which would be whenever it lhould be
known that the Viceroy had fitted out the lhips at Callao, or on
Mr. Anfon's receiving any other intelligence that lhould make it
neceffary to unite our ftrength. Thefe orders being delivered to
the Captain of the Gloucejler, and all our bufinefs compleated, we,
on the Saturday following, being the 19th o f September, weighed
our anchor, in company with our prize, and got out o f the bay,
taking our laft leave of the Ifland o f Juan Fernandes, and fleering
to the eaftward, with an intention of joining the Tryal Sloop in
her Ration off Valparaifo.
Z C H A P