the signal honour which our national character in those parts has thence
received, and the reputation which our Commodore in particular has
thereby acquired, merits a distinct and circumstantial discussion. I
have already observed, that all the prisoners taken by us were, before
our departure, put on shore, and discharged, amongst whom there were
some persons of considerable distinction, especially a youth of about 17
years of age, son of the Vice-president of the Council of Chili. As the
barbarity of the buccaniers, and the artful uses the ecclesiastics had
made of it, had filled the natives of those countries with the most
terrible ideas of English cruelty, we always found our prisoners, at
their first coming on board us, to be extremely dejected, and under
great horror and anxiety; particularly this youth, who, having never
been from home before, lamented his captivity in the most moving manner,
regretting, in very plaintive terms, his parents, his brothers, his
sisters, and his native country; of all which, he was fully persuaded,
he had taken his last farewel, believing that he was now devoted for the
remaining part of his life to an abject and cruel servitude. Indeed, his
companions on board, and all the Spaniards that came into our power, had
the same desponding opinion of their situation. Mr. Anson constantly
exerted his utmost endeavours to efface those terrifying impressions
they had received of us, always taking care, that as many of the
principal people among them as there was room for should dine at his
table by turns; and giving the most peremptory orders, too, that they
should always be treated with the utmost decency and humanity: but,
notwithstanding this precaution, it was generally observed, that for the
first day or two they did not quit their fears, suspecting the
gentleness of their usage to be only preparatory to some unthought-of
calamity. However, being at length convinced of our sincerity, they grew
perfectly easy in their situation, and remarkably chearful; so that it
was often disputable, whether or no they considered their being detained
by us as a misfortune: for the youth I have above mentioned, who was
near two months on board us, had at last so far conquered his melancholy
surmises, and had taken such an affection to Mr. Anson, that it is
doubtful to me, whether, if his own opinion had been asked, he would not
have preferred a voyage to England in the Centurion, to the being set on
shore at Payta, where he was at liberty to return to his country and
friends.
This conduct of the Commodore to his prisoners, which was continued
without interruption or deviation, gave them all the highest idea of his
humanity and benevolence, and occasioned them, likewise, (as mankind are
fond of forming general opinions) to entertain very favourable thoughts
of the whole English nation. But whatever they might be disposed to
think of Mr. Anson before the capture of the Teresa, their veneration
for him was prodigiously increased by his conduct towards the ladies
whom he took in that vessel; for, being informed that there were among
them a mother and two daughters of exquisite beauty, who were of
quality, he not only gave orders that they should be left in full
possession of their own apartments, but also forbid, on the severest
penalties, any of the common people on board from approaching them; and,
that they might be the more certain of having these orders complied
with, or of having the means of complaining if they were not, he
permitted the pilot, who in Spanish ships is generally the second person
on board, to stay with them as a guardian and protector. These were
measures that seemed so different from what might have been expected
from an enemy and an heretic, that the Spaniards on board, though they
had themselves experienced his beneficence, were surprized at this new
instance of it; and the more so, as all this was done without
solicitation, and without the interposition of one friend to intercede
in their favour. The ladies were so sensible of the obligations they
owed him for the care and attention with which he protected them, that
they absolutely refused to go on shore at Payta, till they had been
permitted to wait on him on board the Centurion to return him thanks in
person. Indeed, all the prisoners left us with the strongest assurances
of their grateful remembrance of his uncommon treatment: a jesuit, in
particular, whom the Commodore had taken, and who was an ecclesiastic of
some distinction, could not help expressing himself with great
thankfulness for the civilities he and his countrymen had found on
board, declaring that he should consider it as his duty to do Mr. Anson
justice at all times, adding that his usage of the men prisoners was
such as could never be forgotten, and such as he should never fail to
acknowledge upon all occasions; but that his behaviour to the ladies was
so extraordinary, and so extremely honourable, that he doubted if all
the regard due to his own ecclesiastical character would be sufficient
to render it credible. Indeed, we were afterwards informed, that he and
the rest of our prisoners had not been silent on this head; but that,
both at Lima and at other places, they had given the greatest encomiums
to our Commodore; that the jesuit, in particular, as we were told, on
his account, interpreted in a lax and hypothetical sense, that article
of his church which asserts the impossibility of heretics being
saved.--But to return:
After we had finished our business, set the town in flames, and got the
treasure on board, Mr. Brett, the officer who commanded the attack,
having collected his men together, was directing his march towards the
beach where the boats waited to take them on board, when the Spaniards
on the hill behind the town, observing his retreat, resolved to try if
they could not precipitate his departure, and thereby lay some
foundation for future boasting. To this end a party of horse, all picked
men singled out for this daring enterprize, marched down the hill with
much seeming resolution; so that, had we not entertained a just opinion
of their prowess, we might have imagined, that, now we were upon the
open beach, with no advantages of situation, they would certainly have
charged us: but we presumed, and we were not mistaken, that all this was
mere ostentation; for, notwithstanding the pomp and parade they at first
came on with, Mr. Brett had no sooner ordered his men to halt and face
about, than the enemy stopt their career, and never dared to advance a
step farther.
When our people arrived at their boats and were ready to go on board,
they were for some time retarded by missing one of their number; and
being unable, on their mutual enquiries among each other, to inform
themselves where he was left, or by what accident detained, they, after
a considerable delay, resolved to get into their boats and to depart
without him: but, when the last man was actually embarked, and the boats
were just putting off, they heard him calling to them to take him in.
The place was by this time so thoroughly on fire, and the smoke covered
the beach so effectually, that they could scarcely discern him, though
they heard his voice. However, the Lieutenant instantly ordered one of
the boats to his relief, who found him up to the chin in water, for he
had waded as far as he durst, being extremely frightened with the
apprehensions of falling into the hands of an enemy, enraged, as they
doubtless were, at the pillage and destruction of their town. On
enquiring into the cause of his staying behind, it was found that he had
taken that morning too large a dose of brandy, which had thrown him into
so sound a sleep, that he did not awake till the fire came near enough
to scorch him. He was strangely amazed, at first opening his eyes, to
see the houses on a blaze on one side, and several Spaniards and Indians
not far from him on the other. The greatness and suddenness of his
fright instantly reduced him into a state of sobriety, and gave him
sufficient presence of mind to push through the thickest of the smoke,
as the likliest means to escape the enemy; and, making the best of his
way to the beach, he ran as far into the water as he durst (for he could
not swim), before he ventured to look back.
By the time our people had helped their comrade out of the water, and
were making the best of their way to the squadron, the flames had taken
possession of every part of the town, and burnt so furiously, both by
means of the combustibles that had been distributed for that purpose,
and by the slightness of the materials of which the houses were
composed, and their aptitude to take fire, that it was sufficiently
apparent no efforts of the enemy (though they flocked down in great
numbers) could possibly put a stop to it, or prevent the entire
destruction of the place, and all the merchandize contained therein. Mr.
Brett had the curiosity to delineate its appearance, together with that
of the ships in the harbour, as may be seen in the Plate.
Our detachment having now safely joined the squadron, the Commodore
prepared to leave the place the same evening. At seven, Cape Blanco, in
lat. 4 deg. 28 min. S. and long. 88 deg. 16 min. W. from London, bore
from us S. S. E. half E. about seven or eight miles distant. This
afternoon and the next day we were employed in taking the most useful
and valuable things out of the Santa Teresa and the Payta bark: we
likewise designing to take every necessary thing which we conveniently
could out of the Santa Teresa, in order to destroy her, and bring our
strength into a less compass, we took her in tow, and set the Payta bark
on fire with the same view. The next day we destroyed the Santa Teresa
in the same manner, having got out of them both some anchors, cables,
hawsers, yards, and top-masts, blocks, bales of goods, and several other
necessaries.
The 17th at three in the afternoon, the Gloucester, with a prize of hers
in tow, joined us. This prize was called the Del Oro, and was chiefly
laden with wine; however, out of her and a small boat which they took
going along shore, they got, in gold, silver, and wrought plate, to
about the value of 17 or 18,000l. These two were all the prizes the
Gloucester took in those seas.
On board this prize of the Gloucester were two horses, which being, I
suppose, fat, and probably better food than their salt beef or pork,
they killed and eat them; and this, I imagine, gave ground to that
fiction which one of the spurious accounts of our voyage has given, of
our eagerly hunting and eating wild horses, whereas in reality we never
saw nor heard of a wild horse during the voyage.
The Gloucester had chaced two or three ships which had escaped her, and
one of those touched at Payta; and though they could give no certain
account that the ship which had chaced them was an enemy, yet the
circumstances they gave were so strong, that it put the people of Payta
upon securing their treasure, and the best of their effects, not caring
to be too well provided for the profit of such unwelcome visitants.
The 21st, at half past five in the morning, we saw the island of Plata,
so called from Sir Francis Drake’s having, as it is said, divided the
treasure he took in the South Seas at this place. At two this afternoon
the port of Manta bore S. E. by E. distant about eight or nine leagues.
We at this time sent six months provisions on board the Carmen; and all
the ships had orders, in case of separation, for several rendezvouses on
the coast of Mexico, or, in case of not meeting there, to make the best
of their way to Macao, in China, where they were to await the arrival of
the Commodore.
The 22d, a division was made of the plunder of Payta, and the Commodore
not appearing in that affair, it was done at the pleasure, and to the
entire satisfaction, of five or six (no doubt) very disinterested
officers and, indeed, most things of this nature, during the course of
the voyage being managed with the same discretion and honour, no room
was left for complaining of particular partialities.
Here, however, we cannot help remarking a very considerable difference
between the relation given by Pascoe Thomas, and that given by Mr.
Walters; the former having asserted, that the Commodore did _not_
interfere in the distribution; the latter, that it was by his prudent
management, that a jealousy, which had arisen between those who were the
real captors, and those who remained on board the ship, was
accommodated. Mr. Walters’ account will set this matter in a true light:
“And now, says he, (while the ships lay-to, in hopes of joining the
Gloucester,) a jealousy, which had taken its rise at Payta, between
those who had been commanded on shore for the attack, and those who had
continued on board, grew to such a height, that the Commodore, being
made acquainted with it, thought it necessary to interpose his authority
to oppose it. The ground of this animosity was the plunder gotten at
Payta, which those who had acted on shore had appropriated to
themselves, considering it as a reward for the risques they had run, and
the resolution they had shewn in that service. But those who had
remained on board looked on this as a very partial and unjust procedure,
urging, that, had it been left to their choice, they should have
preferred the acting on shore to the continuing on board; that their
duty while their comrades were on shore was extremely fatiguing, for,
besides the labour of the day, they were constantly under arms all
night, to secure the prisoners, whose numbers exceeded their own, and of
whom it was then necessary to be extremely watchful, to prevent any
attempts they might have formed in that critical conjuncture: that, upon
the whole, it could not be denied, but that the presence of a sufficient
force on board was as necessary to the success of the enterprize, as the
action of the others on shore; and, therefore, those who had continued
on board maintained, that they could not be deprived of their share of
the plunder without manifest injustice. These were the contests amongst
our men, which were carried on with great heat on both sides; and,
though the plunder in question was a very trifle in comparison of the
treasure taken in the place (in which there was no doubt but those on
board had an equal right), yet as the obstinacy of sailors is not always
regulated by the importance of the matter in dispute, the Commodore
thought it necessary to put a stop to this ferment betimes. Accordingly,
the morning after our leaving Payta, he ordered all hands upon the
quarter-deck, where addressing himself to those who had been detached on
shore, he commended their behaviour, and thanked them for their services
on that occasion; but then, representing to them the reasons urged by
those who had continued on board, for an equal distribution of the
plunder, he told them, that he thought these reasons very conclusive,
and that the expectations of their comrades were justly founded; and
therefore, he insisted, that, not only the men, but all the officers
likewise who had been employed in taking the place, should produce the
whole of their plunder immediately upon the quarter-deck, and that it
should be impartially divided amongst the whole crew, in proportion to
each man’s rank and commission; and, to prevent those who had been in
possession of the plunder from murmuring at this diminution of their
share, the Commodore added, that, as an encouragement to others who
might be hereafter employed on like services, he would give his entire
share to be distributed amongst those who had been detached for the
attack of the place. Thus, this troublesome affair, which, if permitted
to have gone on, might, perhaps, have been attended with mischievous
consequences, was, by the Commodore’s prudence, soon appeased, to the
general satisfaction of the ship’s company: not but there were some few
whose selfish dispositions were uninfluenced by the justice of this
procedure, and who were incapable of discerning the force of equity,
however glaring, when it tended to deprive them of any part of what they
had once got into their hands.”
Being now joined by the Gloucester and her prize, it was resolved that
we should stand to the northward, and make the best of our way either to
Cape St. Lucas on California, or to Cape Corientes on the coast of
Mexico. Indeed, the Commodore, when at Juan Fernandez, had determined to
touch in the neighbourhood of Panama, and to endeavour to get some
correspondence over land with the fleet under the command of Admiral
Vernon; for when we departed from England, we left a large force at
Portsmouth, which was intended to be sent to the West Indies, there to
be employed in an expedition against some of the Spanish settlements.
And Mr. Anson, taking it for granted that this enterprize had succeeded,
and that Porto Bello perhaps might be then garrisoned by British troops,
he hoped that, on his arrival at the isthmus, he should easily procure
an intercourse with our countrymen on the other side, either by the
Indians, who were greatly disposed in our favour, or even by the
Spaniards themselves, some of whom for proper rewards might be induced
to carry on this intelligence; which, after it was once begun, might be
continued with very little difficulty; so that Mr. Anson flattered
himself, that he might by this means have received a reinforcement of
men from the other side, and that, by settling a prudent plan of
operations with our Commanders in the West Indies, he might have taken
even Panama itself, which would have given to the British nation the
possession of that isthmus, whereby we should have been in effect
masters of all the treasures of Peru.
Such were the projects which the Commodore revolved in his thoughts, at
the island of Juan Fernandez, notwithstanding the feeble condition to
which he was then reduced; but in examining the papers which were found
on board the Carmelo, the first prize we took, we learned, that our
attempt against Carthagena had failed, and that there was no probability
that our fleet in that part of the world would engage in any new
enterprize that would at all facilitate this plan. Mr. Anson therefore
gave over all hopes of being reinforced across the isthmus, and
consequently had no inducement at present to proceed to Panama, as he
was incapable of attacking the place, and there was great reason to
believe that, by this time, there was a general embargo on all the
coast.
The only feasible measure, then, which was left us, was to steer as soon
as possible to the southern parts of California, or to the adjacent
coast of Mexico, there to cruise for the Manilla galleon, which we knew
was now at sea, bound to the port of Acapulco; and we doubted not but to
get on that station time enough to intercept her: but there was a
business which we foresaw would occasion some delay, and that was the
recruiting our water, it being impossible to think of venturing upon
this passage to the coast of Mexico till we had procured a fresh supply.
It was for some time a matter of deliberation, where we should take in
this necessary article; but, by consulting the accounts of former
navigators, and examining our prisoners, we at last resolved for the
island of Quibo, situated at the mouth of the bay of Panama. Nor was it
but on good grounds that the Commodore conceived this to be the
properest place for watering the squadron. Indeed, there was a small
island called Cocos, which was less out of our way than Quibo, where
some of the buccaniers had pretended to find water; but none of our
prisoners knew any thing of it, and it was thought too dangerous to
risque the safety of the squadron, by exposing ourselves to the hazard
of not meeting with water when we came there, on the mere authority of
those legendary writers, of whose misrepresentations and falsities we
had almost daily experience. Determined, therefore, to take in water at
Quibo, we directed our course northward, being eight sail in company,
and consequently having the appearance of a very formidable fleet; and
on the 19th, at day-break, we discovered Cape Blanco, bearing S. S. E.
half E. seven miles distant. By this time we found that our last prize,
the Solidad, was far from answering the character given of her as a good
sailor; and she and the Santa Teresa delaying us considerably, the
Commodore commanded them to be cleared of every thing that might prove
useful to the rest of the ships, and then to be burnt. And having given
proper instructions, and appointed a rendezvous to the Gloucester, and
to the prizes, in case of separation, we proceeded in our course for
Quibo.
On the 25th, Point Manta bore S. E. by E. at seven miles distance, and
there being a town of the same name in the neighbourhood, Captain
Mitchell in the Gloucester took the opportunity of setting on shore
several of his prisoners. The boats were now daily employed in
distributing provisions on board the prizes, to compleat their stock for
six months; and that the Centurion might be the better prepared to give
the Manilla ship a warm reception, if happily she should fall in our
way, the carpenters were ordered to fix eight stocks on the main and
fore tops, which were properly fitted for the mounting of swivel guns.
On the 25th we had sight of the island of Gallo; and from hence we
crossed the bay of Panama, shaping our course in a direct line for
Quibo. Here we found, in a few days, a very considerable alteration in
the climate; for, instead of that uniform temperature where neither the
excess of heat or cold was prevalent, we had now close and sultry
weather, like that we met with on the coast of Brazil. We had, besides,
frequent calms and heavy rains, which we at first ascribed to the
neighbourhood of the Line, where this kind of weather is observed to
obtain at all seasons of the year; but, finding that it attended us for
more than seven degrees of north latitude, we began to suspect that the
stormy season, or, as the Spaniards call it, the Vandewals, was not yet
past; though many writers, particularly Captain Shelvock, assert, that
this season begins in June, and ends in November: but, perhaps, its end
may not be always regular.
On the 27th, Captain Mitchell having cleared his largest prize, she was
likewise set on fire; and now our fleet consisted only of five ships,
and we were fortunate enough to find them all good sailors. On the 3d of
December we had a view of the island of Quibo, the east end of which
bore from us N. N. W. four leagues distant, and the island of Quicara
W. N. W. at about the same distance. When we had thus got sight of land,
we found the wind to hang westerly; and therefore, night coming on, we
thought it advisable to stand off till morning, as there are said to be
some shoals at the entrance of the channel. At six the next morning,
Point Marrato bore N. E. half N. three or four leagues distant. In
weathering this point, all the squadron, except the Centurion, were very
near it; and the Gloucester, being the leeward-most ship, was forced to
tack and stand to the southward; so that we lost sight of her; and, the
wind proving unfavourable, we saw her no more till we quitted the
island. At seven in the evening we anchored in the Canal Bueno, or Good
Channel, which is at least six miles in breadth, muddy ground. Next
morning an officer was dispatched on shore to discover the
watering-place, who, having found it, returned before noon; and then we
sent our long-boat for a load of water, and at the same time weighed and
stood further in with our ships, for the convenience of being sooner
supplied; so that we were little more than two days in laying in all the
wood and water we wanted. Whilst the ship continued here at anchor, the
Commodore, attended by some of his officers, went in a boat to examine a
bay which lay to the northward, and they afterwards ranged all along the
eastern side of the island. In the places where they put on shore, in
the course of this expedition, they generally found the soil to be rich,
and met with great plenty of excellent water. In particular, near the
north-east point of the island, they discovered a natural cascade, which
surpassed, as they conceived, every thing of this kind which human art
had ever yet produced. It was a river of transparent water, about 40
yards wide, which rolled down a declivity of near 150 feet in length.
The channel itself was very irregular, intirely composed of rocks, both
its sides and bottom being made up of large detached blocks, and by
these the course of the water was frequently interrupted; for in some
parts it ran sloping with a rapid but uniform motion, whilst in others
it tumbled over ledges of rocks with a perpendicular descent. On the
neighbourhood of this stream was a fine wood; and even the huge masses
of rock which over-hung the water, and which by their various
projections formed the inequalities of the channel, were covered with
lofty forest trees. Whilst the Commodore, with those who accompanied
him, were attentively viewing this place, and were remarking the
different blendings of the water, the rocks, and the wood, there came in
sight, as it were to heighten and animate the prospect, a prodigious
flight of mackaws, which, hovering over this spot, and often wheeling
and playing on the wing above it, afforded a most brilliant appearance,
by the glittering of the sun, and their variegated plumage; so that some
of the spectators cannot refrain from a kind of transport when they
recount the beauties which occurred in this extraordinary waterfal.
In three days we compleated our business in this place, and were
impatient to depart, that we might arrive time enough on the coast of
Mexico, to intercept the galleon; but the wind, being contrary, detained
us a night; and next day, when we had gained an offing, while we were
hovering about in hopes of getting sight of the Gloucester, we on the
20th descerned a small sail to the northward of us, to which we gave
chace, and coming up with her took her. She proved to be a bark from
Panama, called the Jesu Nazareno, laden with oakum, rock salt, and a
small quantity of money to purchase a cargo of provisions at Cheripe, an
inconsiderable village on the continent, which, however, has a good
market, from whence future voyagers, in case of necessity, may be
plentifully supplied.