merchantman, and four shots quickly brought her to. She
was found to be laden with sugar and blue cloth, with a few other
articles. Besides this there were several trunks containing silver, the
value of which amounted to seventy thousand pounds. Beside the treasure
obtained, Anson had the satisfaction of hearing of the destruction of
Pizarro's squadron, and that there was no chance of being molested by
any men-of-war. By means of intercepted letters and the information
obtained from the prisoners, it was found that several other
richly-laden vessels were likely soon to sail from Callao to Valparaiso.
To obtain the best chance of capturing them, Anson ordered his ships to
cruise separately, the _Gloucester_ being directed to take up her
station off Paita, out of sight of land. On the 19th of September the
_Centurion_, accompanied by the _Carmelo_, her prize, put to sea. Four
days afterwards two ships were seen, one of which, a powerful vessel,
stood towards them. The crew of the _Centurion_ went to their quarters,
but as the stranger could not escape, they were ordered not to fire.
Being hailed in Spanish, an answer came from Mr Hughes, a lieutenant of
the _Trial_, who gave them the welcome intelligence that she was a prize
to that ship, having been captured after a long chase. She measured six
hundred tons, being one of the largest merchantmen employed in those
seas, and had on board five thousand pounds sterling. The _Trial_ had,
however, sprung all her masts, but, bad weather coming on, no assistance
could for some time be rendered her. When at length the weather
moderated, her commander came on board, and representing her leaky and
unseaworthy state, requested that he and his crew might be transferred
to the ship which he had just taken, which was now called the _Trial's
Prize_. To this the commander agreed, and the guns, stores, and
everything of value were removed on board the prize. Having returned to
Juan Fernandez, the _Centurion_ again put to sea, and shortly afterwards
captured another prize, but of no great value. She had three ladies on
board, a mother and two daughters, who were in a dreadful fright on
seeing the English, but the honourable treatment they received from
Anson and his officers soon quieted their fears.

Another prize was in a short time taken, from which information was
received that there was a considerable amount of treasure in the
custom-house at Paita, ready to be shipped on b