ure, that we could not help
imagining reasons which might have prevented them from pursuing it.
We supposed, therefore, that this French or Spanish squadron, having
advice that we were to sail in company with Admiral Balchen and Lord
Cathcart's expedition, might not think it adviseable to meet with us
till we had parted company, from apprehension of being over-matched,
and supposed we might not separate before our arrival at this island.
These were our speculations at the time, from which we had reason to
suppose we might still fall in with them, in our way to the Cape
de Verd islands. We were afterwards persuaded, in the course of our
expedition, that this was the Spanish squadron commanded by Don Joseph
Pizarro, sent out purposely to traverse the views and enterprizes of
our squadron, to which they were greatly superior in strength. As this
Spanish armament was so nearly connected with our expedition, and as
the catastrophe, if underwent, though not effected by our force, was
yet a considerable advantage to this nation produced in consequence
of our equipment; I have, in the following section, given a summary
account of their proceedings, from their first setting out from Spain
in 1740, till the Asia, the only ship of the whole squadron that
returned to Europe, got back to Corunna in the beginning of the year
1746.

SECTION III.

_History of the Spanish Squadron commanded by Don Joseph Pizarro._

The squadron fitted out by the court of Spain, to attend our motions,
and traverse our projects, we supposed to have been the ships seen
off Madeira. As this force was sent out particularly against our
expedition, I cannot but imagine that the following history of its
casualties, so far as has come to my knowledge, by intercepted letters
and other information, is an essential part of the present work. For
it will from hence appear, that we were the occasion of a considerable
part of the Spanish naval power being diverted from prosecuting the
ambitious views of that court in Europe; and whatever men and ships
were lost by the enemy in this undertaking, were lost in consequence
of the precautions they took to secure themselves against our
expedition.

This squadron, besides two ships bound for the West Indies, which did
not part company till after they left Madeira, was composed of the
following men-of-war, commanded by Don Joseph Pizarro. The Asia of 66
guns and 700 men, the admiral's ship; the Guipuscoa of 74 guns an