ships of the squadron; and, if not joined by the commodore
after a stay of ten days, they were then to pass through the straits
of Le Maire and round Cape Horn into the South-Seas, where the next
place of rendezvous was to be the island of Nostra Senora del Socoro,
in lat. 45 deg. S. long. 71 deg. 12' W. from the Lizard.[1] They were to bring
this island to bear E.N.E. and to cruize from five to twelve leagues
distance from it, as long as their store of wood and water would
permit, both of which they were directed to expend with the utmost
frugality. When under the necessity of procuring a fresh supply, they
were to stand in, and endeavour to find an anchorage; and in case they
could not, and the weather made it dangerous to supply the ships by
standing off and on, they were then to make the best of their way to
the island of Juan Fernandez in lat. 33 deg. 37' S. at which island, after
recruiting their wood and water, they were to cruize off the anchorage
for fifty-six days; and, if not joined by the commodore in that time,
they were to conclude that some accident had befallen him, and were
forthwith to put themselves under the command of the senior officer,
who was to use his utmost endeavour to annoy the enemy both by sea and
land. In this view, the new commander was urged to continue in these
seas as long as provisions lasted, or as they could be supplied by
what could be taken from the enemy, reserving only a sufficiency to
carry the ships to Macao, at the entrance of the river of Canton
on the coast of China; whence, being supplied with a new stock of
provisions, they were to make the best of their way to England. As it
was found still impossible to unload the Anna Pink, our victualler,
the commodore gave her master instructions for the same rendezvouses,
and similar orders to put himself under the command of the remaining
senior officer.

[Footnote 1: The centre of the island of Socoro, or Guayteca, on the
western coast of Patagonia, is in lat. 43 deg. 10' S. and long. 73 deg. 40' W.
from Greenwich.--E.]

Under these orders, the squadron sailed from St Catharines on Sunday
the 18th of January, 1741. Next day we had very squally weather,
attended with rain, lightning, and thunder; but it soon cleared up
again, with light breezes, and continued so to the evening of the
21st, when it again blew fresh, and, increasing all night, it became a
most violent storm by next morning, accompanied by so thick a fog that
it w