About the beginning of the year 1718, some English merchants,
foreseeing war between England and Spain, resolved to fit out two
ships for the South Seas. Two ships were accordingly provided, one
called the Success, the other the Speedwell. The command of the former
was given to captain Clipperton, and captain Shelvock was appointed to
command the latter. They sailed from Plymouth on the 13th of February
1719, with a fair wind; but the whole stock of wine, brandy and other
liquors, for the use of both ships, was still on board the Speedwell.
On the 15th, had squally weather with rain; in the evening, unbent the
best and small bowers in the Success, stowed their anchors, and found
themselves often obliged to shorten sail for the Speedwell. Captain
Shelvock came this day under the lee of the Success, and complained to
Clipperton of the crankness of his ship, which proceeded from having
too much weight aloft; and, therefore, desired him to send for his
wine and brandy, which would give him an opportunity of striking down
some of his guns into the hold. This was never done.
About ten o’clock at night, on the 19th, there arose a fresh breeze,
so as to oblige both ships to take in their topsails. The gale
increasing, the Success made a signal for the Speedwell to bring to,
and by seven o’clock both ships were under bare poles, nor able to
bear a rag of canvass during the night. On the 20th, the storm abated,
when Clipperton made sail, steering S. by E., whereas Shelvock stood
away to the N. W., so that from this day they never saw each other
till they met by accident in the South Seas.
The Canaries being the first place appointed for a rendezvous,
Clipperton sailed thither with such expedition as to arrive on the 5th
of March. After waiting ten days he determined to continue his voyage,
lest he should miss his consort at the next place of rendezvous, which
was the Cape de Verd Islands. On the 21st, they saw St. Vincent, and
next morning anchored in the bay. They remained here ten days, but not
meeting with their consort, proceeded on their voyage.
On the 29th of May, found themselves off the north point of the
entrance of the straits of Magellan, and the next day entered the
straits. They arrived in the South Seas on the 18th of August, and on
the 7th of September cast anchor off the island of Juan Fernandez.
They left this island on the 8th of October, leaving behind two
deserters whom they had not been able to find. After taking a number
of valuable prizes; the Success bore away for the Gallapagos, in order
to refresh; and anchored in York Road on the 9th of January 1720. On
the 11th of August anchored with a prize they had taken, at the island
of Lobos de la Mar. While here a conspiracy among the crew was
discovered and punished.
On the 1st of November, sailed for the Bay of Conception; and in the
passage took a ship, laden with tobacco, sugar and cloth. They made
the Bay on the 6th in the afternoon, where they saw three men-of-war
lying, with their topsails loose, who no sooner discovered them than
they cut their cables, and stood in chase. At this time Captain
Clipperton had one prize with him, which, as well as the Success,
hauled close upon a wind; on which the best sailor among the Spanish
men-of-war, gave chase to the prize, which she soon came up with and
took. The other ships crowded all the sail they could for some time,
till the largest, having her mizen-top-mast carried away, fired a gun,
tacked, and stood in for the shore, which gave the Success an
opportunity of making her escape. In the Spanish prize Clipperton lost
his third lieutenant, and twelve of his men.
They continued cruising to the northward, and on the 4th of December
found themselves very near the Gallapagos. On the 17th saw the island
of Cocos, and most of the crew went on shore. On the 19th of January,
1721, sailed from this place, and on the 25th arrived on the coast of
Mexico, where, discovering a sail, they sent their pinnace to give
chase, to whom he struck. On the return of the pinnace they had the
surprising account that this was a Spanish ship called the Jesu Maria,
now commanded by Captain Shelvock, who had lost his ship and most of
his men, and taken this prize. These ships again parted, and on the
31st of May, Clipperton anchored in the road of Guam. On the 5th of
July entered the port of Amoy, where the crew demanded that the prize
money should be shared. Clipperton not complying, they applied to the
chief mandarin of the place, requesting that he would do them justice
against the captain. Clipperton was therefore summoned before him; and
on the mandarin’s demanding a reason why he refused to comply with the
desires of the crew, he produced the articles, by which it appeared
that the prize-money was not to be shared till their return to London.
The mandarin decided that the shares should be settled, and this
distribution was accordingly made on the 16th of September; £7,000
being set aside as belonging to the owners. This sum was immediately
put on board a Portuguese East Indiaman, which ship was afterwards
burnt, and the greater part of the money lost.
Clipperton afterwards took passage for England in a Dutch ship, and
arrived there bankrupt in health and fortune, after a long and
disastrous voyage.