DEC. 1768 LEAVE RIO DE JANEIRO 3 r 



made it necessary for us to go no more ashore while we 

 stayed. 



1st December. We learnt that Mr. Forster had been taken 

 into custody, charged with smuggling. The real cause, we 

 believe, was that he had shown some countenance to his 

 countrymen, as we heard at the same time that five or six 

 Englishmen residing in the town, and a poor Portuguese, 

 who used to assist our people in bringing things to the boats, 

 had also been put into prison without any reason being 

 given. 



2nd. This morning, thank God, we have got all we 

 want from these illiterate, impolite gentry, so we got up 

 our anchor and sailed to the point of Ilhoa dos Cobras, 

 where we were to lie and wait for a fair wind, which should 

 come every night from the land. A Spanish brig from 

 Buenos Ayres with letters for Spain arrived about a week 

 ago; her officers were received ashore with all possible 

 civility, and allowed to take a house without the least 

 hesitation. The captain, Don Antonio de Monte negro y 

 Velasco, with great politeness offered to take our letters to 

 Europe. Of this very fortunate circumstance we availed 

 ourselves, and sent our letters on board this morning. 



5 1 h. We attempted to tow down with our boats, and 

 came nearly abreast of Santa Cruz, their chief fortification, 

 when to our great surprise the fort fired two shots at us, 

 one of which went just over our mast; we immediately 

 brought to, and sent ashore to inquire the reason ; we were 

 told that no order had come down to allow us to pass, and 

 that without such no ship was ever suffered to go below that 

 fort. We were now obliged to send to town to know the 

 reason of such extraordinary behaviour; the answer came 

 back about eleven that it was a mistake, for the brigadier 

 had forgotten to send the letter, which had been written 

 some days ago. It was, however, sent by the boat, and we 

 had leave to proceed. We now began to weigh our anchor, 

 which had been dropped in foul ground, when we were fired 

 upon, but it was so fast in a rock that it could not be got 

 up while the land breeze blew, which to-day continued 



