s of considerable distinction, one of them a youth of
seventeen, son to the vice-president of Chili. As the barbarity of the
buccaneers, and the artful uses the Spanish ecclesiastics had made of
that circumstance, had filled the natives of these countries with
the most horrible notions of the English cruelty, we always found our
prisoners, on first coming aboard, extremely dejected, and under great
horror and anxiety. This youth particularly, having never been before
from home, lamented his captivity in the most moving terms, regretting
the loss of his parents, his brothers, his sisters, and his native
country; all of which he believed he should never see more, conceiving
that he was devoted for the remainder of his life to an abject and
cruel servitude. Indeed, all the Spaniards who came into our power,
seemed to entertain similarly desponding notions of their condition.
The commodore constantly exerted his utmost endeavours to efface these
terrifying impressions, always having as many of the principal people
among them as there was room for to dine at his table; and
giving strict charges that they should at all times, and in every
circumstance, be treated with the utmost decency and humanity. In
spite of this precaution, they hardly ever parted with their fears
for the first few days, suspecting the gentleness of their usage to be
only preparatory to some after calamity; but at length, convinced of
our sincerity, they grew perfectly easy and cheerful, so that it
was often doubtful whether they considered their captivity as a
misfortune. The before-mentioned youth, who was near two months on
board the Centurion, had at last so completely conquered his
original melancholy surmises, and had taken such an affection for
the commodore, and seemed so much pleased with the manner of life
on board, so different from all he had ever seen before, that I much
question, if it had been in his choice, if he would not have preferred
a voyage to England in the Centurion to going on shore at Payta,
though he had here liberty of returning to his friends and country.

This generous conduct of our commodore to his prisoners, which he
continued without interruption or deviation, gave them all the highest
idea of his humanity and benevolence; and, as mankind are ever fond
of forming general opinions, induced them to entertain very favourable
thoughts of the whole English nation. But, whatever opinion they might
be disposed to form of his ch