ed from Panama three or
four days before we left Portsmouth, was able to relate to Mr Anson
most of the particulars of the destination and strength of our
squadron, from what he had learnt from the Spaniards before he
left them. This was afterwards confirmed by a more extraordinary
circumstance; for we shall find, that when the Spaniards, fully
satisfied of our expedition being intended for the South Seas, had
fitted out a squadron before us, which had so far got the start as
to arrive before us at the island of Madeira, the commander of this
squadron was so well instructed in the form and make of Mr Anson's
broad pendant, and had imitated it so exactly, that he thereby decoyed
the Pearl, one of our squadron, within gun-shot of him, before the
captain of the Pearl was able to discover the deception.

SECTION II.

_The Passage from St Helens to the Island of Madeira, with a short
Account of that Island, and of our Stay there._

As observed in the preceding section, the squadron weighed from
St Helens with a contrary wind on the 18th of September, 1740, our
commodore proposing to tide down the channel, as he less dreaded the
inconveniences we might have thereby to struggle with, than the risk
he should run of ruining the enterprize by an uncertain, and, in
all probability, a tedious attendance for a fair wind. The squadron
allotted for this expedition consisted of five men-of-war, a sloop of
war, and two victuallers. These were, the Centurion of 60 guns, and
400 men, George Anson, Esq. commander; the Gloucester, of 50 guns, and
300 men, Richard Norris, commander; the Severn, of 50 guns, and 300
men, the Honourable Edward Legg, commander; the Pearl, of 40 guns, and
250 men, Matthew Mitchell, commander; the Wager, of 28 guns, and 160
men, Dandy Kidd, commander; the Tryal sloop, of 8 guns, and 100 men,
the Honourable John Murray, commander. The two victuallers were pinks,
the largest of about four hundred tons burden; and these were to
attend us till the provisions we had on board were so far consumed as
to make room for the additional quantity they carried, which was then
to be taken into our ships, and they were to be discharged. Besides
the before-mentioned complements of men borne by the ships as their
crews, there were embarked in our squadron about 470 invalids
and marines, as particularly mentioned in last section, under
the denomination of land-forces, which were commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Cracherode.