dered out two boats laden with the choiceft refrefhments and pro-
vifions that were to be procured at Acapulco ; which he intended
as a prefent to the Commodore : But theie boats not having found
our Chips, were at length obliged to put back again, after having
thrown all their provifions over-board in a ftorm which threatened
their deftrudtion.
The fending away our prifoners was our laft tranfadlion on the
American coaft j for no fooner had we parted with them, than we
and the Gloucefter made fail to the S. W, propofing to get a good
effing from the land, where we hoped in a few days to meet
with the regular trade-wind, which the accounts of former Navigators
had reprefented as much brifker and Readier in this ocean
than in any other part of the world : For it has been efteemed no
uncommon paifage, to run from hence to the eaftermoft ifles of
Alia in two months; and we flattered ourfelves that we were as
capable of making an expeditious voyage, as any Chips that had ever
failed this courfe before us : So that we hoped foon to gain the coaft
o f China, for which we were now bound. As we conceived this
navigation to be free from all kinds of embarraflment of bad weather,
fatigue, or ficknefs, conformable to the general idea o f it,
given by former travellers; we confequently undertook it with
alacrity,- efpecially as it was no contemptible ftep towards our arrival
at our native country, for which many o f us by this time began
to have great longings. Thus, on the 6th of May, we, for
the laft time loft fight of the mountains of Mexico, perfuaded, that
in a few weeks we Chould arrive at the river o f Canton in China,
where we expected to meet with many Englijh Chips, and with
numbers o f our countrymen : and hoped to enjoy the advantages of
an amicable well frequented port,inhabited by apolifhed people, and
abounding with the conveniencies and indulgencies of a civilized
life; bleffings, which now for near twenty months had never been
once in our power. But, before we take our final leave of America,
there yet remains the confederation of a matter well worthy of attention,
the difeuflion of which ihall be referred to the enfuing chapter.
C H A P .
C H A P . X IV .
A brief account of what might have been expected
from our fquadron, had it arrived in the South-Seas
in good time.
Ajr q. r r the recital o f the transactions o f the Commodore,
and the Chips under his Command, on the coafts o f Peru,
and Mexico, contained in the preceding narration; it will
be no ufelefs digteffion to examine what the whole fquadron might
have been capable of atchieving, had it arrived on its deftined
feene of aftion in fp good a plight, as it would probably have
done had the paffage round Cape Horn been attempted at a more
feafonable time of the year. This difquifition may be femceahle
to thofe who (hall hereafter form projects of the like nature for
that part of the world, or who may be entrufted with their execution
And therefore I propofe, in this chapter, to confider as
fuccinaly as. I can, the numerous advantages which the public
might have received from the operations o f the fquadron, had it
fet fail from England a few months fooner than it did.
To begin then, I prefume it will be granted me that m the fum-
mer time we might have got round Cape Horn with an inconfider-
able lofs and without any material damage to our (hips or rigging.
For the Duke and Duchefs, o f Brijlol, who between them had
above three hundred men, buried no more than two, from the
coaft ° f B razil tq Juan Fernandes; and out of a hundred and
eighty-three hands which were on board the Duke alone, there
were only twenty-one fick of the feurvy, when they arrived at
that Ifland : Whence, as men of war are much better provided
with all conveniencies than privateers, we might doubtlefs have
appeared before Bald/via in full ftrength, and in a condition o f
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