C H A P . V I I .
D ep a rtu re from th e b a y o f St. ’Julian, an d th e paffage
from thenc e to Streights Le Mairs.
TH E Tryal being nearly refitted, which was our principal
occupation at this bay o f St. 'Julian, and the foie occafion
of our ftay, the Commodore' thought it neceflary, as we
were now directly bound for the South-Seas and the enemy’s coafts,
to fix the plan o f his firft operations: and therefore, on the 24th
o f February, a fignal was made for all Captains, and a Council
o f war was held on board the Centurion ; at which were prefect
the Honourable Edward Legg, Captain Matthew Mitchell, the
Honourable George Murray, Captain David Cheap, together with
Colonel Mordaunt Cracherode, Commander of the land-forces.
At this Council Mr. Anfon propofed, that their firft attempt, after
,their arrival in the South-Seas, fhould be the attack of the town
and harbour o f Baldivia, the principal frontier of the diftridt of
Chili.-, Mr. Anfon informing them, at the fame time, that it was an
article contained in his Majefty’s inftruciions to him, to endeavour
to fecure fome 'port in the South-Seas, where the {hips of the fqua-
dron might be careened and refitted. T o this propofition, made
by the Commodore, the Council Unanimoufly and readily agreed ;
and, in confequence of this refolution, new inftruftions were given
to the Captains of the fquadron; by which, though they were ftill
directed, in cafe o f feparation, to make the beft of their way to
the Ifland of Nuejlra Senoro del Socoro, yet (notwith(landing the
orders they had formerly given them at St. Catherine'sJ they were
to cruize off that Ifland only ten days; from whence, i f not joined
by the Commodore, they were to proceed, and cruize off the harbour
of Baldivia, making the land between the latitudes o f 40°,
and 40°: 30', and taking care to keep to the fouthward of the
port j
port; and, if in fourteen days they were not joined by the reft of
the fquadron, they were then to quit this Ration, and to diredt
their courfe to- the, Ifland of Juan Fernandes ; after which they
were to regulate their further proceedings by their former orders.
The fame diredtions were alfo given to the Mafter of the Anna
Pink,., who was not to fail in anfwering the fignats made by any
(hip o f the fquadron; and was to be very careful to deftroy his
papers and orders, if he thou Id be fo unfortunate as to fall into the
hands of the enemy. And, as the feparation of the fquadron might
prove of the utmoft prejudice to his Majefty’s fervice, each Capr
tain was ordered^ to, give it in charge to the refpeaive Officers o f
the watch, not to- keep their ffiip at a greater diftance from the
Centurion than two miles,, as they would anfwer it at . their peril ;
and if any Captain, ffiould find his ffiip beyond the-diftance fpeci--
fied,. he was to acquaint the Commodore with the name o f . the
Officer who had thus negledted his duty..
Thefe neceflary regulations being eftabliflied,, and the Tryal
Sloop completed, the fquadron weighed on Friday the 27th of
February, at feven in the morning, , and flood to the fea: the
Gloucejler, indeed, found a difficulty in purchafing her anchor, and
was left a confiderable way. aftern;. fo that in the night we fired
feveral guns, as-a fignal to her Captain to.make fail; but he did
not come up to us till the next'morning, when we found that they
had been-obliged to cut their cable, and leave their beft bower be; ■
hind them. At ten in the morning, the day after our departure,
Woods .Mount, the high land over St. Julian, .bore from-us N. by
W . diftant ten leagues, and we had fifty-two fathom of water.
And now, (landing to the fouthward, we had great expedtatibn of
falling in .with. Pissarro's fquadron for, during our ftay at Port
St. Julian, there had generally been hard gales between the W. N.
W. and S..W. fo that we had reafon to. conclude the Spaniards
had gained, no ground upon us in that interval. Indeed, it was
the profpecl of meeting with them that had occafioned our Commodore
to be fo very folicitous to prevent the feparation of our