into the South Seas, he would have been able to have
performed much greater things than any of our commanders had hitherto
done in these parts. Neither is it at all clear that the Spaniards
are there in a better condition, their coasts better fortified,
their garrisons more numerous, or the country in any respect better
provided, than when our privateers had formerly so great success
in those parts. The sacking of Payta in this expedition proves the
contrary, since it was then actually in a worse condition, and less
capable of making any resistance, than when formerly taken by Captain
Shelvocke. If this expedition had never taken place, we might have
been told that it was impracticable, that the Spaniards were grown
wiser, that all their ports were well fortified, and any attempt of
this kind would be only to sacrifice the lives of such as might be
employed in the expedition. But we now know the contrary, and that the
Spaniards remained as unguarded, and as little apprehensive as ever;
perhaps even the fate of this expedition may have made them less
so, insomuch, that were a new project of the same kind to be put in
execution, either at public or private expence, there seems next to a
moral certainty that it would succeed. Another expedition might,
and probably would be attended by fewer difficulties; at least, it
certainly might be undertaken at much less expence; and, besides
all the advantages resulting to such private persons as became
proprietors, this inestimable advantage would accrue to the public,
that we should once more have a number of able marines, well
acquainted with the navigation of the South Seas, which we never can
have by any other means.

"I would not be understood at all to lessen the miseries and
distresses of these who were employed in this voyage; and all I would
endeavour to aim at is to convince the reader that the difficulties
and discouragements met with in this voyage are not sufficient to
ground a decisive opinion by the few in opposition to the sentiments
of the many, that all attempts on this side ought to be abandoned. And
I really think that the setting the difficulties and discouragements
encountered by the Centurion in the strongest light, will serve my
purpose much better than lessening or extenuating them. For, if after
being ruined in a manner by storms, diseases, and hardships, they
landed rather skeletons than men, on the island of Juan Fernandez; if,
after their long cruize i