fected superiority, or to a parsimonious saving of gunpowder,
I cannot pretend to determine. Sir Erasmus Gower, knowing
it to be tire case, sent an officer on shore, conformably to
his instructions, to make an offer of the compliment on the
ground of reciprocation, which the Governor, however, with
great politeness, declined; observing that his orders would
not allow him to make any return; and intimating, at the
same time, that it would be more agreeable if the usual custom
was dispensed with of firing the morning and evening,
guns. When the wishes of a friendly power could be acceded
to on such moderate terms, a refusal would have indicated
more of pride than policy. From Sir Erasmus Gower the
desire of the Governor met with a ready compliance. There
was a Frenchman, however, commanding a frigate at anchor
in the bay, who, in the true spirit of Gallic liberty, disdaining
the restraint of orders and port regulations, saluted and
fired his morning and evening guns, in defiance of the rules
}aid down by the Spanish government. Like a true Gascon
he had ^ boasted, as we afterwards heard, that, concluding
from the sight of our squadron war must have broken out
between England and France, he had prepared to receive us
with one broadside at least,, in order to do all the mischief he
could, pour I’honneur de la Grande Nation, before he struck
his colours. Yet these are the people who are loudest in
complaining of the tyranny of the English in exercising the
sovereignty of the seas; but, were the exercise of that sovereignty
placed, unluckily for the world, in the hands of the
French, their conduct on the continent is a sufficient test to
evince with what degree of moderation they would hold the
dominion of the ocean.
On entering the bay of Santa Cruz, situated oh the eastern
side of Teneriffe, and casting an eye round the shores, such
a lengthened barrier presents itself of bold rocky projections,
connected in some parts by lines of masonry, and strengthened
in others by so many batteries, that, concluding from appearances,
one would not hesitate to pronounce that a small but
well-disciplined garrison must render this part at least of
the island impregnable. There seems to be but one landing-
place that can be considered as tolerably good, in the whole
compass of the surrounding shore ; and this is within a well-
built mole, projecting obliquely into the bay, and forming a
shallow bason of considerable extent for the protection of the
numerous small craft against the heavy swell of the sea,
which occasionally, indeed almost continually, rolls in during
the winter months. This mole is defended by a work of some
strength at its extremity, and by several forts on each side
of it, which are connected by lines for musquetry running
close along the shore. The anchoring ground in the bay is
so foul and rocky that, unless the cables are floated up with
buoys, they are liable to be fretted and worn in pieces in no
great length of time. The Hindostan, after losing two anchors,
had nearly been dashed on the lava rocks. To render
it even a tolerable port for the Safety of large ships, the first
thing that appears to be necessary is the laying down of
mooring chains, fastened to cast-iron sinkers ; after which it
would still be expedient to float the cables with buoys. The
winds, indeed, are so unsteady, and particularly in the winter
months, rushing down in violent gusts, and nearly at the
same time from every point of the surrounding high land,
unless when they blow directly into the bay from the east*
7