ith a large sum of money, and sent there to cut masts, instead of
prosecuting the business he was sent upon, married in the country,
and refused to return. However, by removing the masts of the Esperanza
into the Asia, and using what spare masts and yards they had on board,
they made a shift to refit the Asia and Estevan: And, in the October
following, Pizarro was prepared to put to sea with these two ships,
in order to attempt the passage round Cape Horn a second time; but, in
coming down the Rio Plata, the Estevan ran upon a shoal and beat off
her rudder, and Pizarro proceeded to sea in the Asia without her.
Having now the antarctic summer before him, and the winds favourable,
no doubt was made of his having a fortunate and speedy passage: But,
when off Cape Horn and going right before the wind, it being moderate
weather, though in a swelling sea, the ship rolled away her masts, by
some misconduct of the officer having the watch, and was a second time
obliged to put back in great distress to the Rio Plata.

As the Asia had suffered considerably in this second unfortunate
expedition, the Esperanza was now ordered to be refitted, the command
of her being given to Mindinuetta, who was formerly captain of the
Guipuscoa. In November 1742, he sailed from the Rio Plata for the
south, and arrived safe on the coast of Chili, where he was met by
his commodore, Pizarro, who passed over-land from Buenos Ayres. Great
animosities and contests took place between these two officers, owing
to the claim of Pizarro to command the Esperanza, which Mindinuetta
had brought round, and now refused to resign; insisting, as he had
come round the South Sea alone and under no superior, it was not now
in the power of Pizarro to resume the authority he had once parted
with. But, after a long and obstinate struggle, as the president of
Chili interposed and declared for Pizarro, Mindinuetta was obliged to
submit.

Pizarro had not yet completed the series of his misfortunes. When
he and Mindinuetta returned over-land, in 1745, from Chili to Buenos
Ayres, they found the Asia still at Monte Video, and resolved, if
possible, to carry her to Europe. With this view they refitted her in
the best manner they could, but had great difficulty in procuring
a sufficient number of hands to navigate her, as all the remaining
sailors of the squadron, then to be met with in the neighbourhood of
Buenos Ayres, did not amount to an hundred men. They endeavoured to
su