heir
merchandise. So crowded was the place during the fair, that there was
scarcely room to stow the chests of money! The entrance of the harbour
is narrow, but widens within; and at the bottom lies the town, in the
form of a half moon. At the east end of the town is a huge stable for
the mules employed in the traffic between it and Panama. It is very
unhealthy, as on the east side there is a swamp; and in the harbour, at
low tide, a wide extent of black slimy mud is exposed, exhaling noisome
vapours. The town was defended by three forts. The Iron Fort was on
the north side of the harbour's mouth, and had a hundred guns. The
Gloria Castle was a mile from the first, on the south side of the
harbour, and had a hundred and twenty guns. And lastly, there was the
fort called Hieronymo, with twenty guns. The Spaniards having been
warned of the approach of the English squadron by a fast-sailing vessel
which escaped from them, were prepared to receive them, and hoped to
send them to the bottom at once. The fleet consisted only of the
_Burford_, commanded by the Admiral; the _Hampton Court_, Commodore
Brown; the _Norwich_, Captain Herbert; the _Worcester_, Captain Main;
the _Princess Louisa_, Captain Waterhouse; and the _Stafford_, Captain
Trevor. On the 21st they came up with the harbour. The _Hampton Court_
first entered, and came to action not a cable's length from the Iron
Fort; and in twenty-five minutes' time fired away about four hundred
shot; so that nothing was to be seen but fire and smoke. The _Norwich_
came next, the _Worcester_ next, and then the Admiral, who anchored
within half a cable's length of the castle: and though he was warmly
received, the Spaniards were soon driven from their guns. Then,
although no breach was made, the troops were landed, and the boats'
crews, climbing up through the embrasures, struck the Spanish flag and
hoisted the English colours! The other two forts capitulated next day,
and all three were completely demolished; the Spanish troops being
allowed to march out with their arms. The work was done by four ships,
for the other two had not come up; and its history serves to show what
men can do, if they are not afraid of the consequences. The same
spirit, in a juster cause, animated Vernon which had animated Morgan and
the Buccaneers of old, and enabled them to succeed in their desperate
enterprises. If a thing must be done, or should be done, never
calculate consequences.