e the principal trade from Peru to Chili being carried on with the
port of Valparaiso, the Centurion, cruising to windward of that port,
would probably meet with them, as it is the constant practice of these
ships to fall in with land to windward of that place. The Gloucester,
also, would be in the way of all ships bound from Panama, or any other
place to the northward, to any port in Peru, since the highland, off
which she was ordered to cruise, is constantly made by every ship on
that voyage. While the Centurion and Gloucester were thus conveniently
situated for intercepting the trade of the enemy, the Tryal's prize,
and Centurion's prize, were as conveniently stationed for preventing
the communication of intelligence, by intercepting all vessels bound
from Valparaiso to the northward; as by such vessels it was to be
feared that some account of us might be transmitted to Peru.

But the most judicious dispositions only produce a probability of
success, and cannot command certainty; since those chances, which may
reasonably enough be overlooked in deliberation, are sometimes of most
powerful influence in execution. Thus, in the present instance, the
distress of the Tryal, and our necessary quitting our station to
assist her, which were events that no degree of prudence could either
foresee or obviate, gave an opportunity to all the ships bound for
Valparaiso to reach that port without molestation during this unlucky
interval: so that, after leaving Captain Saunders, we used every
expedition in regaining our station, which we reached on the 29th at
noon; yet, in plying on and off till the 6th of October, we had not
the good fortune to fall in with a sail of any sort. Having lost all
hope of meeting with any better fortune by longer stay, we then made
sail to leeward of the port, in order to rejoin our prizes; but when
we arrived off the high-land, where they were directed to cruise, we
did not find them, though we continued there three or four days. It
was supposed, therefore, that some chase had occasioned them to
quit their station, wherefore we proceeded to the northward to the
high-land of Nasca, in lat. 15 deg. 20' S. being the second rendezvous
appointed for Captain Saunders to join us. We got there on the 21st of
October, and were in great expectation of falling in with some of
the enemy's vessels, as both the accounts of former voyagers, and
the information of our prisoners, assured us, that all ships bound to
Ca