weakly manned, and those prisoners being good sailors. We likewise
supplied the prize with two months provisions of all sorts, at full
allowance, for 20 men; put all the guns belonging to the Anne pink on
board of her; and, having left orders with Captain Mitchell, of the
Gloucester, to burn the pink, together with her useless stores, and
appointed him his station off the town of Payta, which is the place
where the ships between Lima and Panama generally touch to deliver part
of their cargoes to be dispersed through the inland parts of Peru, with
orders to sail to that station as soon as possible, we weighed, and took
leave of our winter residence, in company with the prize, which the
Commodore had fitted up to cruise against the enemy.
The 21st, at four in the evening, we had the last sight of this island,
it then bearing from us W. by N. at the distance of 17 leagues. The
remaining days, until the 24th, we had variable and uncertain weather,
in which we split our main-top-sail and fore-sail, and received some
other slight damage.
The 24th, at five in the evening, being somewhat hazy, we saw two sail
to windward, on which we cleared ship, in order to be ready to engage,
the largest of the two ships bearing down upon us. At seven she came so
near, that we haled her in Spanish, and she answered in English, and
told us, that she was a prize taken by the Trial, and that her consort
was the Trial itself, which was very much disabled. At 11 the next
morning, there being a hard gale and high sea, the Trial fired two guns
as a signal of distress, and bore away before the wind, and we after
her. The same day half an hour past noon we spoke with the Trial, and
found she had sprung her main-mast, and that her main-top-mast had come
by the board: and as we were all of us standing to the eastward next
morning, with a fresh gale at south, she had the additional misfortune
to spring her fore-mast; so that now she had not a mast left. This was a
great obstruction; for now we had intelligence by the Trial’s prize,
that there were many ships at sea richly laden, and that they had no
apprehensions of being attacked by us, having received intelligence that
our squadron was either put back or destroyed. In the course, therefore,
of the 48 hours we were detained in waiting upon the Trial, I am
persuaded we missed the taking many valuable prizes. The result was,
that a council being called, and all the officers convened together on
board our ship, it was there concluded, that in her present condition
the Trial could be of no farther service; and the Commodore, being
resolved to separate the ships, in order to cruise upon the coast to the
greatest advantage, gave orders to Captain Charles Saunders, the
Commander, to burn the Trial, and in her room commissioned the Trial’s
prize for his Majesty’s service, with the same Commander, officers, and
people. This ship, the Trial’s prize, was called by the Spaniards the
Nuestra Senora de Arinzazie; but, being now commissioned for his
Majesty’s service, she was henceforth called the Trial’s Prize. She was
the largest ship we took in those seas, being between five and six
hundred tons, and loaded with bale goods, sugar, and other commodities,
to a considerable value, and about 5000l. in specie and wrought silver.
The 28th, at nine in the morning, we parted with the Trial and both the
prizes.
The 30th we saw the main land of Chili. This day we began to exercise
our people with small arms, which was the first time we had done it
since we came into those seas, and which we continued at all proper
opportunities during the voyage.
On the 1st of October we came in sight of the high land of Valparaiso,
bearing N. E. half E. at the distance of about 14 leagues. This city
lies in the latitude of 32 deg. 58 min. S. its longitude from London is
by my account 80 deg. 37 min. W.
On the 5th, the Commodore, being informed that there were murmurings
amongst the people, because the prize-money was not immediately divided,
ordered the articles of war to be read; and after that remonstrated to
them on the danger of mutiny, and said he had heard the reason of their
discontent, but assured them their properties were secured by act of
parliament as firmly as any one’s own inheritance, and that the money,
plate, &c. were weighed and marked in public; so that any capable
person, if he pleased, might take an inventory of the whole. He then
read an account of the particulars, and told them they might (if they
pleased) make choice of any person to take an inventory for them, or buy
their parts. This spread a visible joy, and gave content to every one.
We continued cruising off the coast of Valparaiso till the 8th, when at
twelve at night we broke the main-top-sail-yard in the slings, on which
we unbent the top-sail and got down the broken yard. At ten in the
morning we saw the high land of Choapa, and over it the Cordillera
mountains, being part of that long ridge of mountains called the Andes,
which run from one end of South America to the other, appearing
excessively high, with their tops covered with snow.
The 14th we crossed the south Tropic to the northward, and from this
time, till we were some degrees to the northward of the Equator, met
with nothing but fair weather and a smooth sea.
The 21st, at noon, the high land of Morro Quemado bore E. by N. at the
distance of four leagues; and here we continued cruising off and on till
Nov. 2, when, about six in the morning, we saw two sail of ships
standing towards us; upon which we made a clear ship, and immediately
gave them chace, when we soon perceived that they were the Trial and
Centurion prizes. As we had the wind of them, we brought to, and waited
their coming up, when Captain Saunders came on board, and acquainted the
Commodore that he had cleared the Trial pursuant to his orders, and
having scuttled her, he remained by her till she sunk; but that it was
not till the 4th of October before this was effected, by reason of the
great swell and hollow sea; that, during his attendance on the sloop,
they were all driven so far to leeward, that they were afterwards
obliged to stretch a long way to the westward, to regain the ground they
had lost; that in their cruise they had met no prize, nor had seen any
vessel on all the coast.
Nov. the 3d, at five in the evening, the island of Asia, in lat. 13 deg.
5 min. S. long. 84 deg. 43 min. W. bore from us N. E. by E. distance
five leagues.
The 5th, at four in the evening, we saw the high land of Barranca,
bearing N. E. by E. distant eight or nine leagues; and half an hour
after we saw a sail to the northward, to whom we gave chace, and cleared
our ship for engaging. At 10 in the evening we came up with her, fired
eight guns, and took her. She came from Guaiaquil, and was bound for
Callao, with timber, cacao, cordage, tobacco, cacao-nuts, and a small
trunk with bale goods; all of little value to us, though a very
considerable loss to the Spaniards. She was called the Santa Teresa,
commanded by Don Bartolo Urrunaga, with between 30 and 40 people on
board, passengers included, and five or six women, besides children. Our
Third Lieutenant, two other officers, and a party of sailors, were sent
on board to command and take care of her; and our other prizes being far
a-stern, occasioned by our chasing this ship, we lay by till four the
next morning, and fired a gun every hour as a signal for their joining
us. This day I find, by the difference of our dead reckoning and
observations, a current to set along this coast to the northward of near
a mile an hour.
The 7th, we were employed in getting aboard several necessary stores, as
planks, cordage, and the like, from our last prize, for the use of the
squadron. The sea here appeared for several miles of a blood-red colour,
which the prisoners informed us was common in those parts, and of which
mention has been made more than once already in this work. This day we
found aboard the prize, in specie and plate, 50 pounds averdupois
weight.
The 9th, we brought from on board the Teresa 10 serons of cacao, one of
wax, and 180 fathom of three and a half rope.
The 10th, we brought from on board our first prize the Carmelo, the
following goods, viz. cloth two bales, bays five ditto, sugar 182
loaves, straw mats two, tar one skin, raisins three bales, indigo four
serons, cotton cloth one bale, hats two cases, and 25 loose ones, skins
one parcel, chocolate one bag, camlet one bale and two parcels, silks
one box, lead four pigs, and combs one small parcel.
The 12th, at five in the morning, we saw a sail, to which we gave chace;
but there being very little wind, we manned and armed our barge,
pinnace, and the Trial’s pinnace, and sent them to take her, and at
eight they boarded and took her, and brought her to us at half an hour
past 10. She was called the Carmen, commanded by Signior Marcus Marina,
and came out of Payta the day before, bound to Callao, laden with iron
and cloth, being a very valuable cargo. We found on board an Irishman,
named John Williams, who pretended himself a prisoner amongst them, and
with much seeming joy entered with us. He informed us, that, amongst
other ships in the port of Payta, they left in the road a bark which was
taking in 400,000 dollars, with which she would sail for Panama in a day
or two at farthest; and the Spanish prisoners being examined, and
confirming the intelligence, and farther giving some account of the
strength of the place, the Commodore resolved to attack it this very
night, and made preparations accordingly. Mr. Thomas Simmers, mate of
our ship, with one midshipman and about 10 or 11 men, were sent to
command and take care of this last prize. At four in the afternoon,
Point Nonura bore E. by S. half S. distant eight leagues. At 10 at
night, we sent our barge, pinnace, and Trial’s pinnace, to attack the
town of Payta by surprize. They had 49 men well armed, and were
commanded by the Lieutenants Brett, Dennis, and Hughes, who had orders,
if possible, to secure the Governor of Payta, and send him prisoner on
board, in order by that means to procure a supply of provisions, and a
ransom for the town. Half an hour after 11 we sounded, and found 43
fathom water, the ground mud, the island of Lobos bearing N. N. E. at
the distance of three or four miles. At seven in the morning, Point
Onado, being the point that forms the bay of Payta, bore S. S. E. two
miles distant; and the town of Payta at the same time began to open in a
direct line with it, distant about four miles; soon after which we saw
our British colours flying on the castle. At 10, the Trial’s boat came
on board, loaded with gold and silver, corn, wrought plate, jewels, and
rich moveables. They informed us, that they took the town about two in
the morning; and that, though the Spaniards had some time before been
apprized of our intent, they yet made a very faint resistance, having
fired but two guns from their castle before our men landed, and a few
small arms afterwards, when they all quitted the town with the greatest
precipitation. The Governor and his family made their escape in so much
haste, that his lady was handed out of a window with no other cloaths to
cover her but her shift. All the inhabitants fled in the like confusion,
except some negro women and children. In this action we lost one man,
Peter Obrian, the Commodore’s steward, who was shot through the breast
by a musquet-ball; and had two wounded, to wit, Arthur Lusk, a
quarter-master, and the Spanish pilot of the Teresa, whom we had made
use of as a guide; the first through the fleshy part of the arm near the
shoulder, the second through the wrist, but neither dangerously: and I
have had it reported from several officers then on shore, that our men
ran to the attack, and fired in so irregular a manner, that it was, and
still remains a doubt, whether those were not shot by our people rather
than by the enemy.
The town of Payta, at the time of the attack, had a fort with eight guns
mounted, which commanded the town and harbour; and the balcony of the
Governor’s house, which again commanded that fort, together with several
other houses, was lined with armed men, of which there might be about
400 in the town; but these people having enjoyed a long peace, and being
enervated by the luxury so customary in those parts, their arms in a bad
condition, and no person of experience or courage to head them, it is no
wonder that they made so small a resistance, and were all driven out of
the town in less than half an hour by only 49 men; but I believe the
noise of two drums which we made use of, together with the suddenness of
the surprize, contributed to intimidate them, and facilitated our
success.
On our getting possession of the castle, our commanding-officer very
inconsiderately ordered the guns to be thrown over the walls, which
accordingly was executed; but some time after reflecting on the ill
consequence which might attend that proceeding, he ordered two of them
to be got up and re-mounted.
At 11, our barge came on board, loaded with money, plate, and jewels.
This town contains about 140 or 150 houses; there are in it two
churches, which, together with the Governor’s house and castle, are the
only remarkable buildings. There are several large store-houses full of
rich European, Asian, and American goods, all which were destroyed when
we set the town on fire; of which in its place. The town lies in
latitude 5 deg. 3 min. S. and longitude from London 88 deg. 48 min. W.
This afternoon we employed ourselves in getting off the plunder, and
provisions of hogs and fowls, which were here in great plenty. In the
evening we anchored in 10 fathom water, the town bearing from us S. by
E. half E. at about three miles distance, not being able to get farther
in, by reason of the flaws of wind from off the land.
From this time to the 15th we were employed in getting on board the
plunder, which chiefly consisted of rich brocades, laced cloaths, bales
of fine linens and woolens, Britannia’s, slays, and the like; together
with a great number of hogs, some sheep and fowls, cases of Spanish
brandies and wines, a great quantity of onions, olives, sweet-meats, and
many other things too tedious to name; all which the sailors hoped would
have been equally divided among the ships companies, but they found
themselves disappointed.
We found in the road, one ship, two snows, one schooner, and two
quarter-gallies, all which we took possession of. The 14th, in the
morning, we saw a bark-log, as they call it, being a sort of raft made
of the stumps of trees fastened together, overlaid with poles, and
covered with small twigs twined mat-wise, with several people in her
coming along shore from the southward. She had a sort of mast and sail
in her, and at first sight we knew not what to make of her; and none of
our own boats being on board, we sent the Carmen’s boat, with Mr.
Langdon, a midshipman, who commanded in the second place on board that
ship, and some armed people, to pursue them, who perceiving it put on
shore, and made their escape over the rocks. Mr. Langdon took their
bark-log, which he found to be laden with dried fish, which we suppose
they were carrying to Payta for a market. This evening the Spaniards,
who had all along appeared in great numbers from the hills, and were now
considerably increased, making a shew of warlike preparations, as if
they designed in the night to attack our people in the town, they
thereupon barricaded the streets, and kept very strict watches, to
prevent a surprize. Several negroes delivered themselves up, desiring to
be made prisoners, that they might have some food, and more especially
water, to keep them from perishing; for the country thereabouts being
for many miles round quite barren and sandy, without either water or any
other thing necessary for life, and the nearest town to them, named as I
think Sancta Cruz, whence relief might be got, being a day and a half or
two days journey off, the people who had left the town were in a
starving condition, and we had melancholy accounts of several dying
among them for want chiefly of water during our small stay; and yet so
greatly were they infatuated or frightened, that they never offered to
treat for the ransom of the place, which if they had done, I believe it
would not have been destroyed; in which case, they might have secured to
themselves not only their habitations, but provisions and water enough
(till they could have got a fresh recruit), which we should on that
condition have readily left them.
The town seems to be very unhappily situated on that and some other
accounts, they having no water but what is brought them by land-carriage
from several leagues off; so that they are obliged to keep very
considerable quantities by them in earthen jars, not only for their own
use, but for the ships who frequently touch here, where they likewise
often unload, and take in fresh cargoes. They are in the same case as to
grain, bread, and almost all other necessaries of life; and lie so open
to an enemy, that the town has been often taken and ruined by the
English, Dutch, and French; all which inconveniences, one would imagine,
should tempt them to change their situation: but then the conveniency of
their trade is so great, being the only proper place they can pitch on
for a mart between Panama and Peru, that they prefer this lucrative
convenience to all other considerations.
Among the slaves who had desired to be entertained in our service, was
one, who, having been a slave in Jamaica, had on the death of his master
obtained his liberty, and thereupon entered himself a servant to one of
the South-Sea Company’s factors, whom he accompanied to Porto Bello and
Panama, and there got into the service of a Spanish gentleman, who took
a great fancy to him, and with whom he went to Lima in Peru, where this
master likewise dying left him a very considerable legacy; but the power
being now in the hands of his executors, they not only defrauded him of
this legacy, but made him a slave a second time. He was now at Payta
with one of his new masters, on his passage from Lima to Panama, when he
took this opportunity to come over to us; and being a very handy fellow,
and accustomed to wait on gentlemen, he was immediately taken into the
Commodore’s service, came with us into England, and, I believe,
continued with him till his death. This person gave us some information
of the designs of the Spaniards on shore, and told us we had killed one
or two of them, and wounded several others; but this account was never,
that I know of, farther confirmed.
The 15th, in the morning, we sent on shore all our Spanish, and several
of our Indian prisoners, keeping all the blacks and some of the Indians,
to assist in working the ships, &c. To the blacks, who were all or most
of them slaves, was promised their liberty in England, in case they
would stand by and assist us against our enemies the Spaniards; which
they all promised very cordially: but we could soon discover, that,
notwithstanding their seeming condescension, most of them would have
much rather continued in the service of their old masters, than fail to
accept of liberty with us; not that I believe those people were in love
with slavery, or would not willingly have had their liberty, but then it
must be on their own terms, the Spaniards in those parts being in great
awe of the Indians, whom, though they have subdued, and seem to have
incorporated among them, they dare not trust, but keep these blacks as
guards, and use them well. The truth is, those Indians have still
preserved, by tradition from father to son, the memory of the great
cruelties which the first Spaniards exercised in those parts, and are
angry enough at their present hard usage. They look on themselves as the
natural lords of the country, and the Spaniards as covetous intruders,
and cruel inhuman tyrants; and want only opportunity to make them
sensible of their resentment, and to recover their lost country and
liberty. ’Tis on this account that the Spaniards are very kind to their
black slaves, whom they cherish and encourage highly, and look on them
in the same light of a standing militia, always ready to arm against
those Indians; so that, though the negroes in all other plantations in
the West-Indies are ever ready for revolts and rebellions, these, on the
contrary, are always ready to defend their kind masters with their
lives. In effect they live very easy, are favoured by the Spaniards, and
scorn and insult the poor Indians, who in return hate and detest both
them and their masters; that being all that is left in their power.
This day an order was given to Mr. Brett, the then commanding-officer on
shore, to burn and destroy the town entirely, the two churches, which
stood a little out of the way of the rest, only excepted; the Spaniards,
as has been already said, never having made any advance towards treating
for its ransom.
But now, before I entirely quit the relation of our transactions at this
place, it may, perhaps, be expected, that I should give a more
particular account of the booty we made, and of the loss the Spaniards
sustained. I have already observed, that there were great quantities of
valuable effects in the town; but, as most of them were what we could
neither dispose of, nor carry away, the total of this merchandize can
only be rudely guessed at. The Spaniards, in their representations sent
to the Court of Madrid (as we were afterwards assured), estimated their
whole loss at a million and a half of dollars; and when it is
considered, that no small part of the goods we left behind us, were of
the richest and most expensive species, as broad-cloths, silks,
cambrics, velvets, &c. I cannot but think their valuation sufficiently
moderate.
As to ourselves, the acquisition we made, though inconsiderable in
comparison of what we destroyed, was yet far from despicable; for the
wrought plate, dollars, and other coin, which fell into our hands,
amounted to upwards of 30,000l. besides several rings, bracelets, and
jewels, whose intrinsic value we could not then estimate: and over and
above all this, the plunder, which became the property of the immediate
captors, was very great; so that, upon the whole, it was by much the
most important booty we met with upon that coast.