d to his station so
early as the beginning of September, to order him to return with his
ship to Portsmouth. And soon after he came there, that is, on the
10th November following, he received a letter from Sir Charles
Wager, directing him to repair to London, and to attend the board of
Admiralty; where, when he arrived, he was informed by Sir Charles,
that two squadrons would be immediately fitted out for two secret
expeditions, which, however, would have some connection with each
other; and that he, Mr Anson, was intended to command one of them; and
that Mr Cornwall, who hath since lost his life gloriously in defence
of his country's honour, was to command the other; that the squadron
under Mr Anson was to take on board three independent companies of an
hundred men each, and Bland's regiment of foot; that Colonel Bland was
likewise to embark with his regiment, and to command the land-forces;
and that, as soon as this squadron could be fitted for sea, they were
to sail, with express orders to touch at no place till they came to
Java-Head in the East-Indies; that they were there only to stop to
take in water, and thence to proceed directly to the city of Manilla
in Luconia, one of the Philippine islands; that the other squadron,
of equal force with this commanded by Mr Anson, was intended to pass
round Cape Horn into the South Seas, to range along that coast; and,
after cruizing upon the enemy in those parts, and attempting their
settlements, this squadron, in its return, was to rendezvous at
Manilla, there to join the squadron under Mr Anson, where they were
to refresh their men, and to refit their ships, and perhaps receive
orders for other considerable enterprizes.

This scheme was doubtless extremely well projected, and could not
but have greatly advanced the public service, and the reputation
and fortune of those concerned in its execution; for, had Mr Anson
proceeded to Manilla at the time and in the manner proposed by Sir
Charles Wager, he would in all probability have arrived there before
they had received any advice of the war between us and Spain, and
consequently before they had been in the least prepared for the
reception of an enemy, or had any apprehensions of their danger. The
city of Manilla might well be supposed to have been at that time in
the same defenceless condition with all the other Spanish settlements,
just at the breaking out of the war; that is, their fortifications
neglected, and in many pla