roys and Governors, is well known to have been the defencelefs
Rate of Panama, and the other Sfanijh places on the coaft of the
South-Sea, for near a twelvemonth after our declaration o f war.
And it cannot be fuppofed that the city of Manila, removed ftill
farther by almoft half the circumference of the globe, Ihould have
experienced from the Spanijh Government a greater fliare of attention
arid concern for its fecurity than Panama, and the other important
ports in Peru and Chili, on which their pofleffion of that
immerife empire depends. Indeed it is well known, that Manila
was at that time incapable of making any corifiderable defence;
and, in all probability, would havefurrendered, only on the appearance
o f our fquadron before it. The confequence of this city,
and the ifland it Rands on, may be in fome meafure eflimated
from the known healthinefs of its air, the excellence o f its port
and bay, the number and wealth of its inhabitants, and the very
extenfive and beneficial commerce which it carries ori to the principal
ports in the EaJl-Indies and China, and its exclufive trade to
Acapulco; the returns for which, being made in filver, are, upon
the loweft valuation, not lefsthan three millionsof dollars per annum.
On this fcheme Sir Charles Wager was fo intent, that, in a few
days after this firfi conference, that is, on November 18, Mr. Anfon
received an order to take under his command the Argyle, Severn,
Pearl, Wager, and Tryal Sloop; and other orders were iffued to him
in the fame month, and in the December following, relating to the
vi&ualing of this fquadron. But Mr. Anfon attending the Admiralty
the beginning o f January, he was informed by Sir Charles
Wager, that, for reafons with which he (Sir CharlesJ was not acquainted,
the expedition to Manila was laid afide. It may be conceived
that Mr. Anfon was extremely chagrined at the lofing the
command o f fo infallible, lo honourable, and, in every relpeft, fo
defireable an enterprize ; efpeeially too, as he had already, at a very
great expence, made the neceffary provifion for his own accommodation
in this voyage, which he had reafon to expeft would prove a
very long one. However, Sir Charles, to render this difappointment
ment in fome degree more tolerable, informed him, that the expedition
to the South Seas was Rill intended; and that he (Mr. Anfon)
and his fquadron, as their firfl deftination was now countermanded,.
Ihould be employed in .that-'femce. And, on the 10th of
January, he received his eommillion, appointing him Commander
in Chief of the forementioned fquadron, which (the Argyle being,,
in the courfe of their preparation, changed for the GlouceJler) was,
the fame he failed with, above eight months after, from St. Helens.
On this change of deftination, the equipment o f the fquadron was-
Rill profecuted with as much vigour as ever; and the victualing,,
and whatevei depended on the Commodore, was foon fo far advanced,
that he conceived the ftiips might be capable o f putting;
to fea the inflant he Ihould receive his final orders, of which he was-
in daily expe&ation. And at lafl, on the 28th of June, 1740, the-
Duke of Newcafle, - principal Secretary of State, delivered to him.
his Majefly’s ijiRruaions, dated January 31, 1739, with an additional
inftru&ion from the Lords Juflices,. dated June 19,. 1740.
On the receipt of thefe, Mr. Anfon immediately repaired to Spit-
head, with a refohatiou to fail with the firfl fair wind, flattering,
himfelf that all his difficulties were now at' an end: for though,
he knew, by the mufters, that his fquadron wanted three hundred
feamen of their complement (a deficiency, which, with alB
his afliduity, he bad not been able to get fupplied), yet, as Sir Charles.
Wager informed him that an order from the board of Admiralty
was difpatched to Sir John Norris, to fpare him the numbers which,
he wanted, he doubted not of its being complied with. But, on,
his arrival at Portjmouth, he found himfelf greatly miflaken and"
difappointed in this perfiiafion : for, on his application, Sir John
Norris told him, he could fpare, him none ; for he wanted men for
his own fleet. This occafioned.an inevitable and a very, confiderable-
delay; for it was the end of July before this deficiency was by any
means fupplied, and all that was then done was extremely fliort of
his neceffities and expe&ation: for Admiral Balchen, who fucceeded
to the command at Spithead, after Sir John Norris had failed,
t®