Ch. Y. SOUTH AMERICA. 355 



We were nov/ fo near the two fiiips which were 

 coming out of the harbour, that orders had been givea 

 for hoilling the boat out to go with an olFjcer on board 

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

 loaded our guns of their fliot to falute them. The 

 fmalleft which carried fifty guns leading the way, came 

 along fide of us ; then indeed from what we both 

 heard and favv, our fatal difappointment became too 

 evident, and our misfortune was immediately con- 

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

 firing into us carried away the foretopfail halliards, 

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

 larger ihip came up on the ilar- board fide of us. Be- 

 twixt two fuch enemies no reafonable perfon will offer 

 to charge the captain of the Deiivrance with cowar- 

 dice, that without offering any rehftance, which would 

 have been a wild tem.erity, he immediately ftruck his 

 colours. The boat from the fmalleft fhip came aboard 

 and took poffeffion of us, having as Hie advanced been 

 hoifted out for that purpofe : and thus after firing only- 

 one gun, returned into the harbour with a very rich 

 prize. 



This accident gave a total chans;e to our flatterina; 

 cxpedations ; brought ruin on our fortunes ; over- 

 threw all our ideas of the ufe and improvement of 

 them. Our joy was flifled in its birth ^ and inflead of 

 our anticipated repofe, we entered on a new fccne of 

 troubles and diflrefs, aggravated by the Icfs of our 

 fubftance and liberty, where v/e had promifed ourfelves 

 recreation and enjoyment* 



These two Engliflimen of w^ar were the Sunder- 

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

 Cheiler, captain Philip Durcil, of fifty : and it was to 

 the latter that the Deiivrance fcruck. The officers, 

 captain Durcil, for their better accommiodatlon, fent 

 to the houle which had been affigned him, when, pur- 

 fuant to the articles of capitulation at the taking of 

 LouifDurgh, the inhabitants were fent back to France. 



A a 2- This 



