unted in the Carmelo, our
prize. He sent also on board the Gloucester, six Spanish passengers
and twenty-three captured seamen, to assist in navigating that ship,
and directed Captain Mitchell to leave the island as soon as possible,
the service demanding the utmost despatch, giving him orders to
proceed to the latitude of 5 deg. S. and there to cruise off the high-land
of Payta, at such distance from shore as should prevent his being
discovered. He was to continue on this station till joined by the
Centurion; which was to be whenever it should be known that the
viceroy had fitted out the ships of war at Callao, or on the commodore
receiving any other intelligence that should make it necessary to
divide our strength. These orders being delivered to Captain Mitchell
of the Gloucester, and all our business completed, we weighed anchor
in the Centurion, on Saturday the 19th of September, in company with
our prize the Carmelo, and got out of the bay, taking our last leave
of Juan Fernandez, and steering to the eastward, with the intention
of joining the Tryal sloop, on her station off Valparaiso, leaving the
Gloucester still at anchor.

SECTION XV.

_Our Cruise, from leaving Juan Fernandez, to the taking of Payta._

Although we left the bay on the 19th of September, yet, by the
irregularity and fluctuation of the wind in the offing, it was the 22d
of that month, in the evening, before we lost sight of Juan Fernandez;
after which we continued our course to the eastward, in order to join
the Tryal off Valparaiso. Next night the weather proved squally, and
we split our main top-sail, which we then handed; but got it repaired
and set again by next morning. In the evening, a little before sunset,
we saw two sail to the eastward, on which our prize stood directly
from us, to avoid any suspicion of our being cruisers, while we made
ready for an engagement, and steered with all our canvass towards the
two ships we had descried. We soon perceived, that one of them, which
seemed a very stout ship, stood directly for us, while the other kept
at a great distance. By seven o'clock we were within pistol-shot of
the nearest, and had a broadside ready to pour into her, the gunners
having their lighted matches in their hands, only waiting orders to
fire. But, as the commodore knew that she could not now escape,
he ordered the master to hail the ship in Spanish; on which her
commanding officer, who happened to be Mr Hughes, lieutenant