d persuaded not only his own crew, but the
people at Macao likewise, that he proposed to try this unusual
experiment; so that there were many letters put on board him by the
inhabitants of Canton and Macao for their friends at Batavia.

But his real design was of a very different nature, for he knew that
instead of one annual ship from Acapulco to Manila there would be this
year, in all probability, two, since by being before Acapulco he had
prevented one of them from putting to sea the preceding season. He
therefore resolved to cruise for these returning vessels off Cape
Espiritu Santo, on the island of Samal, which is the first land they
always make in the Philippine islands. And as June is generally the month
in which they arrive there, he doubted not but he should get to his
intended station in time enough to intercept them. It is true they were
said to be stout vessels, mounting forty-four guns apiece, and carrying
above 500 hands, and might be expected to return in company; and he
himself had but 227 hands on board, of which near thirty were boys. But
this disproportion of strength did not deter him, as he knew his ship to
be much better fitted for a sea engagement than theirs, and as he had
reason to expect that his men would exert themselves in the most
extraordinary manner when they had in view the immense wealth of these
Manila galleons.

This project the Commodore had resolved on in his own thoughts ever since
his leaving the coast of Mexico, and the greatest mortification which he
received from the various delays he had met with in China was his
apprehension lest he might be thereby so long retarded as to let the
galleons escape him. Indeed, at Macao, it was incumbent on him to keep
these views extremely secret, for there being a great intercourse and a
mutual connection of interests between that port and Manila, he had
reason to fear that, if his designs were discovered, intelligence would
be immediately sent to Manila and measures would be taken to prevent the
galleons from falling into his hands. But being now at sea, and entirely
clear of the coast, he summoned all his people on the quarter-deck, and
informed them of his resolution to cruise for the two Manila ships, of
whose wealth they were not ignorant. He told them he should choose a
station where he could not fail of meeting with them; and though they
were stout ships and full-manned, yet, if his own people behaved with
their accustomed spirit, he