to the South Sea.

Captain Anson's family was little known. He was not supposed to possess
even brilliant talents, for "he was," as Earl Stanhope writes of him,
"dull in conversation and slow in business, but he had undaunted
bravery, steady application, and cool judgment. He punctually followed
his instructions and zealously discharged his duty, and by these
qualities--qualities within the attainment of all--he rose to
well-earned honours, and bequeathed an unsullied renown. He thus
deserves to be held forth to British seamen as an example of what may be
accomplished by industry, courage, and love of their profession."

The squadron consisted of the _Centurion_, of sixty guns and four
hundred men, on board of which the commodore flew his broad pennant; the
_Gloucester_ and _Severn_, each of fifty guns; the _Pearl_, of forty;
the _Wager_, of twenty-eight; and the _Trial_ sloop, of eight guns.
There were also two victuallers to carry provisions, to be taken on
board the squadron when there was room to receive them.

Besides the seamen, there were four hundred and seventy invalids and
marines. Five hundred of the former unfortunates, notwithstanding that
the commodore strongly protested against such unsuitable men being sent,
were ordered to embark, many of them out-pensioners from Chelsea, but
two hundred and forty who had sufficient strength to get away escaped,
their places being supplied by two hundred and ten marines--raw,
undrilled recruits, who had not yet been allowed to use firearms. They
were placed under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Crackerode. Many of
the poor worn-out old pensioners shed tears as they marched on board,
feeling their utter unfitness for the duty they were called upon to
perform. Indeed, out of the whole number, not a single man returned.
The squadron, after many delays, sailed from Saint Helen's on the 16th
of September, 1740. Having touched at Madeira, they anchored on the
18th of December off the island of Santa Catalina, on the coast of
Brazil.

On touching at Madeira, Commodore Anson learned from the Governor that a
squadron of Spanish ships, commanded by Don Josef Pizarro, had been sent
out to attack them. This expedition, however, met with a lamentable
fate.

Anson's crews suffered greatly from the ships being so deeply laden that
the ports could not be opened to admit air. As soon as they arrived at
Santa Catalina, the tents were erected on the shore, and the sick me