With this squadron, together with the St Albans and Lark, and the
Turkey trade under their convoy, we tided down channel for the first
forty-eight hours. In the morning of the 20th, we discovered the
Dragon, Winchester, South-Sea Castle, and Rye, with a number of
merchantmen under their convoy, waiting for us off the Ram-head. We
joined there the same day about noon, the commodore having orders to
see them, together with the convoy of the St Albans and Lark, as far
as their course and ours lay together. When we came in sight of this
last-mentioned ship, Mr Anson first hoisted his broad pendant, and
was saluted by all the men-of-war in company. After joining this last
convoy, we made up eleven men-of-war, and about 150 sail of merchant
ships, consisting of the Turkey, the Straits, and the American trades.
The same day Mr Anson made a signal for all captains of men-of-war
to come on board, when he delivered them their fighting and sailing
instructions, and then we all stood to the S.W. with a fair wind; so
that next day at noon, being the 21st, we had run forty leagues beyond
the Ram-head. Being now clear of the land, our commodore, to render
our view more extensive, ordered Captain Mitchell, in the Pearl, to
make sail two leagues a-head of the fleet every morning, and to repair
to his station every evening. Thus we proceeded till the 25th, when
the Winchester, with the American convoy, made the concerted signal
for leave to separate, and this being answered by the commodore, they
left us, which, was done by the St Albans and the Dragon on the 24th,
with the Turkey and Straits convoys.

There now remained only our own squadron and the two victuallers, with
which we stood on our course for the island of Madeira. But the winds
were so contrary, that we had the mortification to be forty days on
our passage to that island from St Helens, though it is often known
to be done in ten or twelve. This delay was most unpleasant, and was
productive of much discontent and ill humour among our people, of
which these only can have an adequate idea who have experienced a
similar situation: For, besides the peevishness and despondency, which
foul and contrary winds, and a lingering voyage, never fail to produce
on all occasions, we in particular had substantial reasons for being
greatly alarmed at this unexpected impediment; since, as we departed
from England much later than we ought to have done, we had placed
almost all our hope of suc