ces decayed; their cannon dismounted, or
rendered useless by the mouldering of their carriages; their magazines
both of military stores and provisions, all empty; their garrisons
unpaid, and consequently thin, ill affected, and dispirited; and the
royal chests of Peru, whence alone all these disorders could receive
redress, drained to the very bottom. This, from the intercepted
letters of their viceroys and governors, is well known to have been
the defenceless state of Panama, and the other places on the coast of
the South Sea, for near a twelvemonth after our declaration of war.
And it cannot be supposed that the city of Manilla, removed still
farther by almost half the circumference of the globe, should have
experienced from the Spanish government a greater share of attention
for its security than Panama, and the other important ports in Peru
and Chili, on which their possession of that immense empire depends.
Indeed, it is now well known that Manilla was at that time incapable
of making any considerable defence, and, in all probability, would
have surrendered only on the appearance of our squadron before it. The
consequence of this city, and the island it stands on, may, in some
measure, be estimated from the known healthiness of its air,
the excellence of its port and bay, the number and wealth of its
inhabitants, and the very extensive and beneficial commerce it carries
on to the principal ports in the East-Indies and China, and its
exclusive trade to Acapulco; the returns for which alone, being made
in silver, are, upon the lowest calculation, not less than three
millions of dollars yearly.

On this scheme Sir Charles Wager was so intent, that, on the 18th
December, a few days only before this first conference, Mr Anson
received an order to take under his command the Argyle, Severn, Pearl,
Wager, and Tryal sloop; and other orders were issued to him, in
the same month and in December, relating to the victualling of this
squadron. But, on attending the Admiralty in the beginning of January,
1740, Mr Anson was informed by Sir Charles Wager, that, for reasons
with which he was not acquainted, the expedition to Manilla was laid
aside. It may well be conceived that Mr Anson was extremely chagrined
at losing the command of so infallible, so honourable, and in every
respect so desirable an enterprize; especially as he had already, at
a very great expence, made the necessary provision for his own
accommodation in this voy