alleon; and we found, that the reason of their being so far to
the leeward of us was a strong current, which had driven the whole
squadron to windward.

It afterwards appeared that this prolongation of our cruise was a very
prudent measure, and afforded us no contemptible chance of seizing the
treasure, on which we had so long fixed our thoughts. For it seems,
after the embargo was laid on the galleon, the persons principally
interested in the cargo sent several expresses to Mexico, to beg
that she might still be permitted to depart: For as they knew, by the
accounts sent from Paita, that we had not more than three hundred men
in all, they insisted that there was nothing to be feared from us;
for that the galleon (carrying above twice as many hands as our whole
squadron) would be greatly an overmatch for us. Though the viceroy was
inflexible; yet, on this representation, she was kept ready for the
sea for near three weeks after the first order came to detain her.

When we had taken up the cutters, all the ships being joined, the
commodore made a signal to speak with their commanders; and upon
enquiry into the stock of fresh water remaining on board the squadron,
it was found to be so very slender, that we were under a necessity of
quitting our station to procure a fresh supply. It was agreed, that
the harbour of Seguataneo or Chequetan being the nearest to us, was,
on that account, the most eligible; it was therefore immediately
resolved to make the best of our way thither: And that, even while
we were recruiting our water, we might not abandon our views upon the
galleon, which perhaps, upon certain intelligence of our ship being
employed at Chequetan, might venture to slip out to sea; our cutter,
under the command of Mr Hughes, the lieutenant of the Tryal prize, was
ordered to cruise off the port of Acapulco for twenty-four days, that
if the galleon should set sail in that interval, we might be speedily
informed of it. In pursuance of these resolutions we endeavoured
to ply to the westward, to gain our intended port, but were often
interrupted in our progress by calms and adverse currents: In these
intervals we employed ourselves in taking out the most valuable part
of the cargoes of the Carmelo and Carmin prizes, which two ships we
intended to destroy as soon as we had tolerably cleared them. By the
first of April we were so far advanced towards Seguataneo, that we
thought it expedient to send out two boats, that the