acao
for their friends at Batavia.

But his real design was of a very different nature: For he knew, that
instead of one annual ship from Acapulco to Manilla, there would be
this year in all probability two; since, by being before Acapulco, he
had prevented one of them from putting to sea the preceding season.
He therefore resolved to cruise for these returning vessels off Cape
Espiritu Santo, on the island of Samal, which is the first land they
always make in the Philippine Islands. And as June is generally the
month in which they arrive there, he doubted not but he should get to
his intended station time enough to intercept them. It is true, they
were said to be stout vessels, mounting forty-four guns a-piece, and
carrying above five hundred hands, and might be expected to return in
company; and he himself had but two hundred and twenty-seven hands
on board, of which near thirty were boys: But this disproportion of
strength did not deter him, as he knew his ship to be much better
fitted for a sea-engagement than theirs, and as he had reason to
expect that his men would exert themselves in the most extraordinary
manner, when they had in view the immense wealth of these Manilla
galleons.

This project the commodore had resolved on in his own thoughts, ever
since his leaving the coast of Mexico. And the greatest mortification
which he received, from the various delays he had met with in China,
was his apprehension, lest he might be thereby so long retarded as to
let the galleons escape him. Indeed, at Macao it was incumbent on
him to keep these views extremely secret; for there being a great
intercourse and a mutual connection of interests between that port and
Manilla, he had reason to fear, that if his designs were discovered,
intelligence would be immediately sent to Manilla, and measures taken
to prevent the galleons from falling into his hands: But being now at
sea, and entirely clear of the coast, he summoned all his people on
the quarter-deck, and informed them of his resolution to cruise for
the two Manilla ships, of whose wealth they were not ignorant. He told
them he should chuse a station, where he could not fail of meeting
with them; and though they were stout ships, and full manned, yet, if
his own people behaved with their accustomed spirit, he was certain
he should prove too hard for them both, and that one of them at least
could not fail of becoming his prize: He further added, that many
ridiculous tal