Cii. II. SOUTH AMERICA. ^Ot 



me, that three davs before he had sent away aa 

 express, with letters from the viceroy, directing* 

 us to hasten to Lima, with all possible expedition ; 

 and chariiin^- him in particular to provide immedi- 

 ately every thing necessary that our journey might 

 not be a moment delayed. It was therefore no time 

 to think of rest ; and accordingly after making such 

 provisions as were absolutely necessary, I set out on 

 the 22d of the same month, and a third time crossed 

 that diilicult mountain in my v/ay to Guayaquil; 

 where having joined Don George Juan, who was in- 

 cluded in the orders, we travelled night and day, with 

 a dispatch answerable to the governor's impatience, 

 aX\ the towns on the road having received orders to 

 keep beasts in readiness, that we might not be detained 

 amoment ; and accordingly we reached Lima the 26ili 

 of February. In the mean time the viceroy had or- 

 dered a squadron of four men of war to sail from Cal- 

 lao to Panama, for the defence of that place, which . 

 touched at Paita, in order to gain intelligence of 

 the enemy's ships, having orders to attack them if 

 possible ; but as we have already observed, they were 

 sailed to the coast of Acapulco. On our arrival the 

 viceroy was pleased to express great satisfaction at 

 our dispatch, and to honour us with several commis- 

 sions suitable to the exigence of ailairs; giving us the 

 command of 2 frigates which he had orderedto be fitted 

 out for the -iecuriiy of tlie coast of Chili, and the island 

 of Juan Fernandes, against any reinforcement coming 

 to the enemy. For though commodore Anson had 

 made no secret of his intentions to the prisoners, and 

 they had eagerly published tjieni, no dependaiice could 

 be had on informations given out by the enemy him- 

 self, and wliich were the more sus;:iciüus as he told 

 them openly. Beside^ it was well known, that this 

 squadron originally con.^isted of more .ships ; and we 

 were appi«heusive^ that though the remainder had 



failed 



