224 



pokter's journal. 



stances, to remain perfectly neutral. He alone exhibited 

 the true firmness of a resolute mind; for the rest, with the 

 singular dexterity of cowards, sacrificed every honourable 

 feeling to gain the good will of the rapacious tyrants who 

 now ruled over them. In the evening, Mr. Blanco gave a 

 splendid entertainment in honour of the Governor's arri- 

 val, and lieut. Gamble was invited to attend. Among 

 the group at the entertainment, he recognized the Go- 

 vernor — a small man, about sixty-five years of age, and no 

 way distinguished in his appearance. He had spent his 

 days chiefly in the Spanish navy, and was then actually in 

 command of a sloop of war. 



On the 9th, Captain Tucker dressed his vessel in the 

 colours of diflferent nations, taking due care to drag the 

 American flag in the water, and at 10 A. M. with the prizes, 

 fired a grand salute in answer to one of 21 guns from the^ 

 Spanish sloop of war and forts. The Governor gave a 

 dinner and a ball, at the first of which neither Mr. Romenes 

 nor Lt. Gamble were invited, because, as Mr. Blanco stated, 

 they had not paid their respects to his Excellency. An 

 order was issued on the 1 1th, for the people to come forward 

 and take the oath of allegiance, and for the town to be illu- 

 minated three nights in succession. Notwithstanding this 

 great display of pageantry, the Patriots, in spite of their 

 well-timed dissimulation, gave evident signs of alarm. 



The next day. Captain Tucker notified his intention of 

 sailing on the 13th, and Lt. Gamble, in consequence thereof, 

 took leave of his friends and repaired on board. But 

 instead of sailing at the time appointed, the Captain again 

 dressed his vessel in various colours, and at noon fired a 

 salute of 21 guns in answer to a grand salute from the Spa- 

 nish sloop and forts. On the morning following, however, a 

 gun was fired, and the signal hoisted for getting under way 

 — but the Cherub still remained where she was. At sunset 

 on the 14th, the forts and ships fired a salute of 21 guns, 

 and at 8 o'clock in the evening Captain Tucker sent up 

 three sky-rockets, and burnt five blue lights. The cause of 

 all this noise and confusion, Lt. Gamble could not at first 

 conceive ; but early in the morning, a signal was made of 

 three ships in sight, and at 10 o'elock the British frigates 

 Tagus and Britonf with the Raccoon sloop, came to anchor 

 in the Bav. 



