hence appear, that the accidents the expedition was afterwards ex-
pofed to, and which prevented it from producing all the national
advantages the ftrerrgth o f the fquadron and the expe&atiqn of
the public feerned to prefiige, were principally (Swing ts a feries
o f interruptions, which delayed the Commander in the dburfe of
his preparations, and which it exceeded his utmoft induftry either
to avoid, or to get removed.
■ When, in the latter end o f the Cummer o f the year 1 739, it was
forefeen that a war with Spain was inevitable, it was the opinion
of fome coaficterable perfons, then trufted with the adminiftration
of affairs, that the moft prudent fiep the Nation could take, on the
breaking out o f the war, was attacking that Crown in her diflant
fettlements; for by tins means (as at that time, there was the
greateft probability o f fuccefs) it was fuppofed that we fhould cut
off the principal refourc.es o f the enemy, and fhould reduce them
to the neceffity of fincerely defiring a peace, is they would hereby
be deprived of the returns of that treafure by which alone they
could be enabled to carry on a war.
In purfuance of thefe fentiments, feveral projects were examined,
and feveral refolutions were taken by the council. And, in all
thefe deliberations, it was from the firft determined, that George
Anfon, Efq; then Captain of the Centurion, fhould he employed as
Commander in Chief of an expedition of this kind: and he at that
time being abfent on a eruize, a veflel was difpatched to his Ration
fb early as the beginning of September, to order him to return with
his fhip to Portfmouth. And footi after he came there, that is, on
the 1 dt’h o f November following, he received a letterfrom Sir Charles
Wager, dire&ing hiffi to repair to London, and to attend the board
©f Admiralty: where, when he arrived, he was informed by Sir
Charles, that two fquadrons would be immediately fitted out for
two fecret expeditions, which, however, would have fome connexion
with each other p that he, Mr. Anfon, was intended to command
one o f them ; and Mr. Cornwall (who hath fince loR his life
glorioufly in the defence of his Country’ s honour) the other : that
a the.
the fquadron under Mr. Anfon was to take on board three Independent
Companies of a hundred men each, and Blandls regiment
o f Foot .: that Colonel Bland was likewife to embark with his regiment,
and to command the land-forces: and that, as fqon as this
fquadron could be fitted for the fea, they were to fet fail, with ex-
prefs orders, to touch at no place till they came to Java-Head in
the- Eajl-Indies: that there they were only to flop to take in water,
and thence- to proceed direflly to the city of Manila, fituated ou
Luconia, one of the Philippine Iflands: that the other fquadron was
to be o f equal force with this commanded by Mr. Anfon, and was
intended to pafs round Cape. Horn into the South Seas, to range
along that coaft; and, after cruifing upon the enemy in thofe parts,
and attempting their fettlements, this fquadron, in its return, was
to rendezvous at Manila, there to join the fquadron under Mr. Anfon,
where they were to refrefh their men, and refit their fhips, and
perhaps receive orders, for other confid.erable enterprizes.
This fcheme was doubtlefs extremely well projected, and could
not but greatly advance the Public Service, and the reputation and
fortune o f thofe concerned in its execution: for had Mr. Anfon
proceeded for Manila at the time, and in the manner, propofed by
Sir Charles Wager, he would in all probability have arrived there
before they had received any advice of the war between us and
Spain, and confequently before they had been in the leaft prepared
for the reception of an enemy, or had any apprehenfions of their
danger. The city of Manila might he well fuppofed to have been
at that time in the fa.me defencelefs condition with all the other
Spanijh.fettlements.juft at the breaking out of the war: that is to
fay, their fortifications neglefted, and in many places decayed;
their cannon diftnounted, or rendered ufelefs by the mouldering
of their.carriages; their magazines, whether o f military ftores or
provifion, all empty; their garrifons unpaid, and confequently
thin, ilhaffeaed, and difpirited; and the royal chefts in Peru,
whence alone all thefe. diforders could receive their redrefis, drained
to the very bottom: this, from the intercepted letters of their Vice-
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