56 



THE SEA. 



masqueraders. The town was burned to the ground, after treasure, in the shape of plate, 

 dollars, and other coin, to the amount of upwards of 30,000, had been taken, besides a 

 number of valuable jewels, and plunder generally, which became the property of the 

 immediate captors. A vessel in the harbour was taken, and five others scuttled and sunk. 

 The Spaniards, in their representations sent to the Court of Madrid, estimated their total 

 loss at a million and a half of dollars. After Anson left Paita, there were dissensions on 

 board regarding the miscellaneous plunder, between those who had been ordered ashore and 



SURRENDER OF THE "CARMELO." 



those whose duty obliged them to remain on board. The Commodore ruled that it should 

 be put into one common fund, to which he gave his entire share, and then divided 

 impartially, in proportion to each man's rank and commission. To all but a few greedy 

 grumblers this was perfectly acceptable, and the discontent, which might easily have 

 been fanned into mutiny, was quashed at once. 



A day or two afterwards, they rejoined the Gloucester, and found that its captain had 

 taken a couple of small prizes, one of them with a cargo of wine, brandy, and olives in 

 jars, and about 7,000 in specie. The people on the other, which was hardly more than 

 a large boat or launch, pleaded poverty, and that their cargo was only cotton. The men 

 on the barge had surprised them at dinner upon pigeon pie served on silver dishes, and 

 suspicion was aroused, which subsided when some little examination had been instituted. 



