tain malicious people took occasion to blame the
conduct of their superiors, by saying, that in so doing they not only
unprofitably wasted time, which was very precious, considering the
approach of the rainy season, but also allowed the Spaniards to
recollect themselves from a terror occasioned by the approach of an
English fleet, at least three times as numerous as ever appeared in that
part of the world before. But if I might be allowed to give my opinion
of the matter, I would ascribe this delay to the generosity of our
chiefs, who scorned to take any advantage that fortune might give them
even over an enemy. At last, however, we weighed, and anchored again
somewhat nearer the harbour's mouth, where we made shift to land our
marines, who encamped on the beach, in despite of the enemy's shot,
which knocked a good many of them on the head. This piece of conduct,
in choosing a camp under the walls of an enemy's fortification, which I
believe never happened before, was practised, I presume, with a view of
accustoming the soldiers to stand fire, who were not as yet much used
to discipline, most of them having been taken from the plough-tail a few
months before. This expedient, again, has furnished matter for censure
against the ministry, for sending a few raw recruits on such an
important enterprise, while so many veteran regiments lay inactive at
home. But surely our governors had their reasons for so doing, which
possibly may be disclosed with other secrets of the deep. Perhaps they
were loth to risk their best troops on such desperate service, or
the colonel and the field officers of the old corps, who, generally
speaking, enjoyed their commissions as sinecures or pensions, for some
domestic services rendered to the court, refused to embark in such a
dangerous and precarious undertaking; for which refusal, no doubt, they
are to be much commended.

CHAPTER XXXII

Our Land Forces being disembarked, erect a fascine battery-our ship is
ordered, with four more, to batter the port of Bocca Chica--Mackshane's
cowardice-the Chaplain's frenzy--honest Rattlin loses one hand--his
heroism and reflections on the battle--Crampley's behaviour to me during
the heat of the Fight

Our forces being landed and stationed as I have already mentioned, set
about erecting a fascine battery to cannonade the principal fort of the
enemy; and in something more than three weeks, it was ready to open.
That we might do the Spaniards as muc