themselves between
the latitude of 12 deg. 50', and 13 deg. 5', the cape itself lying, by their
observations, in 12 deg. 40' north, and 4 deg. of east longitude from Botel
Tobago Xima.

It was the last of May, when they arrived off this cape; and the month
of June being that in which the Manilla ships are usually expected,
the Centurion's people were now waiting each hour with the utmost
impatience for the happy crisis which was to balance the account
of all their past calamities. As from this time there was but small
employment for the crew, the commodore ordered them almost every day
to be exercised in the management of the great guns, and in the use
of their small arms. This had been his practice, more or less, at all
convenient seasons, during the whole course of his voyage; and the
advantages which he received from it, in his engagement with the
galleon, were an ample recompence for all his care and attention.[2]

[Footnote 2: The original has here some reflections on the importance
and advantages of exercising the seamen in firing, &c. which, however
good, are too common and obvious to merit insertion. The art of
destroying men's lives has been abundantly improved since our author's
day.--E.]

The galleons being now expected, the commodore made all necessary
preparations for receiving them, having hoisted out his long-boat, and
lashed her alongside, that the ship might be ready for engaging, if
they fell in with the galleons in the night. All this time too he was
very solicitous to keep at such a distance from the cape, as not to
be discovered: But it hath been since learnt, that notwithstanding
his care, he was seen from the land; and advice of him was sent
to Manilla, where it was at first disbelieved, but on reiterated
intelligence (for it seems he was seen more than once) their merchants
were alarmed, and the governor was applied to, who undertook (the
commerce supplying the necessary sums) to fit out a force consisting
of two ships of thirty-two guns, one of twenty guns, and two sloops
of ten guns each, to attack the Centurion on her station: And some
of these vessels did actually weigh with this view; but the principal
ship not being ready, and the monsoon being against then, the commerce
and the governor disagreed, and the enterprize was laid aside. This
frequent discovery of the Centurion from the shore was somewhat
extraordinary; for the pitch of the cape is not high, and she usually
kept from ten to