Lieutenants, in full readiness and equipment; a body of Negroes
superadded, by way of pioneer laborers fit for those hot climates. One
sad loss there had been on the voyage hither: Land forces had lost
their Commander, and did not find another. General Cathcart had died of
sickness on the voyage; a Charles Lord Cathcart, who was understood
to possess some knowledge of his business; and his Successor, one
Wentworth, did not happen to have any. Which was reckoned unlucky, by
the more observant. Vernon, though in haste for Carthagena, is in some
anxiety about a powerful French Fleet which has been manoeuvring in
those waters for some time; intent on no good that Vernon can imagine.
The first thing now is, See into that French Fleet. French Fleet, on our
going to look in the proper Island, is found to be all off for home;
men 'mostly starved or otherwise dead,' we hear; so that now, after this
last short delay,--To Carthagena with all sail.

"Wednesday Evening, 15th March, 1741, We anchor in the Playa Grande, the
waste surfy Shallow which washes Carthagena seaward: 124 sail of us, big
and little. We find Don Blas in a very prepared posture. Don Blas has
been doing his best, this twelvemonth past; plugging up that Boca-Chica
(LITTLE MOUTH) Ingate, with batteries, booms, great ships; and has
castles not a few thereabouts and in the Interior Lake or Harbor; all
which he has put in tolerable defence, so far as can be judged: not an
inactive, if an insolent Don. We spend the next five days in considering
and surveying these Performances of his: What is to be done with them;
how, in the first place, we may force Boca-Chica; and get in upon his
Interior Castles and him. After consideration, and plan fixed:

"Monday, 20th March, Sir Chaloner, with broadsides, sweeps away
some small defences which lie to left of Boca-Chica [to our LEFT, to
Boca-Chica's RIGHT, if anybody cares to be particular]. Whereupon the
Troops land, some of them that same evening; and, within the next
two days, are all ashore, implements, Negroes and the rest; building
batteries, felling wood; intent to capture Boca-Chica Castle, and
demolish the War-Ships, Booms, and fry of Fascine and other Batteries;
and thereby to get in upon Don Blas, and have a stroke at his Interior
Castles and Carthagena itself. Till April 5th, here are sixteen days of
furious intricate work; not ill done:--the physical labor itself, the
building of batteries, with Boca-Chica firing on