fervice ; and it was fuppofed that, by their knowledge and in t e lligence
on that coaft, they might often procure provifions for him
by compact with the inhabitants, when it was not to be got by force
o f arms. Thefe Agent Vidualers were, for this purpofe, to be allowed
to carry to the value of fifteen thoufand pounds in merchandize
on board the fquadron; for they had reprefented, that it would be
much eafierforthem to procure provifions with goods, than with the
value of tire fame goods in money. Whatever colours were given to
this fbheme, it was difficult to perfuade the generality of mankind
■ that it w-as not principally intended for the enrichment of the Agents,
by the beneficial commerce they, propofed to carry on upon that
coaft. Mr. Anfon, from the beginning, objeded both to the appointment
of Agent VidUalers, and the allowing them to carry a
(cargo on board the fquadron ; for he conceived that, in thofe few
amicable ports where the fquadron might touch, he needed not
their affiftance to contrad for any provifions the place afforded;
and, on the enemy’s coaft, he did not imagine that they could ever
procure him the neceflaries he fhould want, unlefs, which he was
refolved not to comply with, the military operations of his fqua-
idron were to be regulated by the ridiculous views o f their trading
projeds. AH that he thought the government ought to have
done, on this occafion, was put on board to the value o f two Or
three thoufand pounds, only of fuch goods as the Indians, or the
Sfani/h Planters, in the lefs cultivated part of the coaft, might be
tempted with; fince it was in fuch places only that he imagined it
•would be worth while to truck with the enemy for provifions; and
in thefe places, it was fufficiently evident, a very fmall cargo would
fuffice.
But, though the Commodore objeded both to the appointment
o f thefe officers and to their projed, o f the fuccefs o f which he
had no opinion; yet, as they had infinuated that their fcheme,
befides vidualing the fquadron, might contribute to fettling
a trade upon that coaft, which might be afterwards carried on
without difficulty, and might thereby prove a very confiderable
national advantage, they were much liftened to by fome confiderable
derable perfons: And of the fifteen thoufand pounds, which was
to be the amount of their cargo, the Government agreed to advance
them ten thoufand upon impreft, and the remaining
five thoufand they raifed on bottomry bonds; and the goods pur-
chafed with this fum were all that were taken to fea by the
fquadron, how much foever the amount of them might be afterwards
magnified by common report.
This cargo was at firft ihipped on board the Wager Store Ship
and one of the Vittualers; no part of it being admitted on board
the men of war. But when the Commodore was at St. Catherine's,
he confidered, that in cafe the fquadron fhould be feparated, it
might be pretended that fome of the fhips were difappointed of
provifions for want of a cargo to truck with, and therefore he distributed
fome o f the leaft bulky commodities on board the men o f
war, leaving the remainder principally on board the Wager, where
it was lo ft: And more of the goods perifhing by various accidents
to be recited hereafter, and no part o f them being difpofed o f upon
the coaft, the few that came home to England did not produce,
when fold, above a fourth part o f the original price. So true
was the Commodore’s judgement o f the event o f this projeflr,
which had been by many confidered as infallibly productive o f im-
menfe gains. But to return to the tranfaftions at Portfmouth.
To fupply the place o f the "two hundred and forty invalids which
had deferted, as is mentioned above, there were ordered on board two
hundred and ten marines detached from different regiments: Thefe
were raw and undifciplinedsmen, for they were juft raifed, and had
fcarcely any thing more of the fbldier than their regimentals, none
o f them having been fo far trained as to be permitted to fire. The
laft detachment of thefe marines came on board the 8th of Auguft,
and on the 10th the fquadron failed from Sfithead to St. Helens,
there to wait for a wind to proceed on the expedition.
But the delays we had already fuffered had not yet fpent all their
influence ; for we were now advanced into the feafon of the year
when the wefterly winds are ufually very conftant, and very violent;
and it was thought proper that we fhould put to fea in com-
C pany