ded, under the severest
penalties, not to sail past the harbour of Callao without stopping: as
this order is always complied with, we should undoubtedly be known for
enemies if we were seen to act contrary to that regulation. In this
new navigation, being uncertain if we might not meet the Spanish
squadron on the way, the commodore took back a part of the crew of the
Centurion which had been for some time on board the Carmelo.

While standing to the northward, we had sight of the small island of
St Gallan[1] before night, bearing from us N.N.E. 1/2 E. about seven
leagues distant. This island lies in about the latitude of 14 deg. S. and
about five miles to the northward of a high-land called Morro Viejo,
or the Old-man's Head, which island and high-land near it are here
more particularly mentioned, because between them is perhaps the most
eligible station on all this coast for cruising against the enemy, as
hereabouts all ships bound for Callao, whether from the northward or
southward, run well in with the land. By the 5th November, at 3 p.m.
we were within sight of the high-land of _Barranca_, in lat. 10 deg. 36'
S. bearing from us N.E. by E. eight or nine leagues distant; and an
hour and a half afterwards we had the satisfaction, so long wished
for, of seeing a sail. She appeared to leeward, and we all immediately
gave chase; but the Centurion so much outsailed the two prizes that
we soon ran them both out of sight, and gained considerably upon the
chase. Night, however, came on before we could make up with her, and
about seven o'clock the darkness concealed her from our view, and
we were in some perplexity what course to steer; but our commodore
resolved, being then before the wind, to keep all his sails set and
not to change his course: For, although there was no doubt the chase
would alter her course in the night, as it was quite uncertain what
tack she might go upon, he thought it more prudent to continue the
same course, rather than change it on conjecture, as, should we
mistake, she would certainly get away. Continuing the chase about
an hour and a half after dark, one or other of our people constantly
believing they saw her sails right a-head of us, our second
lieutenant, Mr Brett, at length actually discovered her about four
points on the larboard bow, steering off to seawards, on which we
immediately clapped the helm a-weather, standing right towards her,
and came up with her in less than an hour, and, having