PRIZES SUNK. 



425 



the squadron was seventy-five miles, the various vessels com- 

 posing it being so connected by signals as to be readily informed 

 of what was seen in any part of the line. The Centurion and 

 the Gloucester were alone intended to come to close quarters, 

 or, indeed, to engage in the action at all : they were therefore 

 strengthened by accessions from the others. 



The calls of hunger and all other duties were neglected on 

 the 3d of March : all eyes were strained in the direction of 

 Acapulco, and voices continually exclaimed that they saw one 

 of the cutters returning with a signal. To their extreme vexa- 

 tion and dismay, both that day and the next passed without 

 bringing news of the galleon. A fortnight went by; and Anson 

 at last came to the melancholy conclusion that his presence 

 upon the coast had been discovered, and that an embargo had 

 been laid upon the object of all their hopes. He afterwards 

 discovered that his presence was suspected, but not known, but 

 that the wary Spaniards had frustrated his schemes by detain- 

 ing the galleon till the succeeding year. With a heavy heart, 

 the admiral gave orders for the departure of the fleet from the 

 American coast, in prosecution of the plans drawn up previous 

 to his leaving England. He sailed early in May with the Cen- 

 turion and Gloucester only, having scuttled and destroyed his 

 three prizes on the enemy's coast. 



A terrible attack of scurvy soon reduced both vessels to half 

 their working force, and a storm of unusual violence completely 

 disabled the Gloucester. She held out, however, till the middle 

 of August, when her stores, her prize-money, and her sick were 

 with great difficulty removed to the Centurion, which was herself 

 in a crazy and well-nigh desperate condition. The Gloucester 

 was set on fire, lest her wreck might fall into the hands of the 

 Spaniards : she continued burning through the night, firing her 

 guns successively as the flames reached them: the magazine 

 exploded at daylight. 



The Centurion kept on her way, losing eight, nine, and ten 



