Cm V. SOUTH AMERICA. 355 



We were now fo near the two fnips which v/ere 

 coming out of the harbour, that orders had been given 

 for hoifling the boat out to go with an officer on board 

 that which leemcd to be the commodore; and we un- 

 loaded our guns of their Ihoc to falute them. The 

 fmalleil which carried fifty guns leading the way^ came 

 along fide of us ; then indeed from what we bocli 

 lieard and faw, our fatal difappointment became too 

 evident, and our misfortune was immediately con- 

 firmed to us, the fhip hoifting its national colours, and 

 firing into us carried away the forctopfail halhards, that 

 the fail dropped down, and at the fame time the larger 

 fhip came up on the ftar-board fide of us. Betwix: 

 two fuch enemies no reafonable perfon will offer to 

 charge the captain of the Delivrance with cowardice, 

 that without offering any refittance, which would have 

 been a wild temerity, he immediately ftruck his colours. 

 The boat from the fmalleft Cnip catne aboard and took 

 poíTcíTion of us, having as ihe advanced been hoifted 

 out for that purpofe: and thus after firing cnly one gun, 

 returned into the harbour Vv^ith a very rich prize. 



This accident gave a total change to our flattering 

 expectations; brought ruin on our fortunes; overthrew 

 all our ideas of the ufe and improvement of them. 

 Our joy was flifled in its birth ; and inficad of our anti- 

 cipated repofe, we entered on a new fcene of troubles 

 and diftrcfs, aggravated by the lofs of our fubllance and 

 liberty, where we had promifed ourfelves recreation 

 and enjoyment. 



These two Engliih men of war were the Sunderland, 

 captain John Brett, of fixty guns, and the Chcftcr, 

 captain Philip Durell, of fifty: and it was to the ia*ner 

 that the Delivrance llruck. The officers, captain Du- 

 rell, for their better accommodadon, fent to the houfc 

 which had been aifigned him, when, purfuant to the 

 articles of capitulation at the taking of Louiil-^urgh, 

 she inhabitants were lent back to France. This houfe, 

 A a 2 he 



