eir own coasts; for,
had they proved too weak, they had ports of their own to retire
to, under their lee. But the ships of war contented themselves with
watching the motions of the interlopers, keeping them always in sight;
and when any of the French ships drew near the shore, the Spaniards
always sent a pinnace or long-boat along with her, carrying the
Spanish flag, the sight of which effectually deterred the creolians
from trading with the French. In this manner they contrived to prevent
all these ships from disposing of their goods, except when they
were met with at sea by chance, and sold some of their commodities
clandestinely. At length, completely tired out by this close
superintendence, the French got leave to take in provisions, and went
home, at least half of their goods remaining unsold. Notwithstanding
these losses and disappointments, and severe edicts issued against
this trade in France, the merchants of St Malo still persist to carry
it on, though privately, nor is it probable they will ever leave off
so lucrative a commerce, unless prevented by the strong arm of power,
or supplanted by some other nation.

Sec. 8. RETURN OF BETAGH TO ENGLAND.

I now return to my own affairs, and the manner of my return to England
from Peru. I have already acknowledged the kind reception I met with
from the admiral of the South Seas, Don Pedro Miranda, and the reasons
of his treating us so civilly. I think it barely justice to mention
the several favours I received, during the eleven months that I
continued at Lima, particularly from Don Juan Baptista Palacio, a
native of Biscay, a knight of the order of St Jago, who came weekly
to the prison while we were there, and distributed money to us all, in
proportion to our several ranks. Captain Nicholas Fitzgerald procured
my enlargement, by becoming security for me; and he afterwards
supplied me with money and necessaries, from that time till my
departure; and procured for me and twenty more, a passage to Cadiz, in
a Spanish advice-boat called the Flying-fish, of which our surgeon's
mate, Mr Pressick, acted as surgeon, receiving wages, as did the
rest of our men, being released from prison expressly to assist in
navigating that vessel home to Spain. For my own part, being well
treated, I did not think proper to eat the bread of idleness, but kept
my watches as well as the other officers. And pray, what is the harm
of all this? Though Shelvocke had the stupidity to call it tre