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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
It was in the reign of Elizabeth that England first became the enemy of Spain. Rivals as yet Spain had none, whether in Europe or beyond the seas. There was only one great military monarchy in Europe, only one great colonising power in the New World, and that was Spain. While England was still slowly recovering from the prostration consequent upon the Wars of the Roses, and nearly a century had to run before she established her earliest colony in Newfoundland, the enterprise and disciplined cour
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CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF THE VOYAGE.--COMPOSITION OF THE SQUADRON--MADEIRA.
CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF THE VOYAGE.--COMPOSITION OF THE SQUADRON--MADEIRA.
THE SQUADRON SAILS. When, in the latter end of the summer of the year 1739, it was foreseen that a war with Spain was inevitable, it was the opinion of several considerable persons, then trusted with the administration of affairs, that the most prudent step the nation could take, on the breaking out of the war, was attacking that Crown in her distant settlements. It was from the first determined that George Anson, Esquire, then captain of the "Centurion", should be employed as commander-in-chief
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CHAPTER 2. SPANISH PREPARATIONS--FATE OF PIZARRO'S SQUADRON.
CHAPTER 2. SPANISH PREPARATIONS--FATE OF PIZARRO'S SQUADRON.
DON JOSEPH PIZARRO. When the squadron fitted out by the Court of Spain to attend our motions had cruised for some days to the leeward of Madeira they left that station in the beginning of November and steered for the River of Plate, where they arrived the 5th of January, Old Style,* and coming to an anchor in the bay of Maldonado at the mouth of that river their admiral, Pizarro, sent immediately to Buenos Ayres for a supply of provisions for they had departed from Spain with only four months' p
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CHAPTER 3. FROM MADEIRA TO ST. CATHERINE'S--UNHEALTHINESS OF THE SQUADRON.
CHAPTER 3. FROM MADEIRA TO ST. CATHERINE'S--UNHEALTHINESS OF THE SQUADRON.
On the 3rd of November we weighed from Madeira. On the 20th the captains of the squadron represented to the Commodore that their ships' companies were very sickly, and that it was their own opinion as well as their surgeons' that it would tend to the preservation of the men to let in more air between decks; but that their ships were so deep they could not possibly open their lower ports. On this representation the Commodore ordered six air-scuttles to be cut in each ship, in such places where th
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CHAPTER 4. THE COMMODORE'S INSTRUCTIONS--BAD WEATHER--NARROW ESCAPE OF THE PEARL--ST JULIAN.
CHAPTER 4. THE COMMODORE'S INSTRUCTIONS--BAD WEATHER--NARROW ESCAPE OF THE PEARL--ST JULIAN.
THE LAST AMICABLE PORT. In leaving St. Catherine's, we left the last amicable port we proposed to touch at, and were now proceeding to a hostile, or at best a desert and inhospitable coast. And as we were to expect a more boisterous climate to the southward than any we had yet experienced, not only our danger of separation would by this means be much greater than it had been hitherto, but other accidents of a more pernicious nature were likewise to be apprehended, and as much as possible to be p
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CHAPTER 5. FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS--TIERRA DEL FUEGO--THE STRAITS OF LE MAIRE.
CHAPTER 5. FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS--TIERRA DEL FUEGO--THE STRAITS OF LE MAIRE.
A COUNCIL OF WAR. The Trial being nearly refitted, which was our principal occupation at this Bay of St. Julian, and the sole occasion of our stay, the Commodore thought it necessary, as we were now directly bound for the South Seas and the enemy's coasts, to regulate the plan of his future operations. And therefore, on the 24th of February, a signal was made for all captains, and a council of war was held on board the Centurion. At this council Mr. Anson proposed that their first attempt, after
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CHAPTER 6. HEAVY GALES--A LONG BATTLE WITH WIND AND SEA--THE CENTURION LOSES HER CONSORTS.
CHAPTER 6. HEAVY GALES--A LONG BATTLE WITH WIND AND SEA--THE CENTURION LOSES HER CONSORTS.
We had scarcely reached the southern extremity of the straits of le Maire, when our flattering hopes were instantly lost in the apprehensions of immediate destruction. For before the sternmost ships of the squadron were clear of the Straits, the serenity of the sky was suddenly changed, and gave us all the presages of an impending storm; and immediately the wind shifted to the southward, and blew in such violent squalls that we were obliged to hand our topsails and reef our mainsail. The tide, t
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CHAPTER 7. OUTBREAK OF SCURVY*--DANGER OF SHIPWRECK.
CHAPTER 7. OUTBREAK OF SCURVY*--DANGER OF SHIPWRECK.
THE PACIFIC. Soon after our passing Straits le Maire the scurvy began to make its appearance amongst us; and our long continuance at sea, the fatigue we underwent, and the various disappointments we met with, had occasion its spreading to such a degree, that at the latter end of April there were but few on board who were not in some degree afflicted with it; and in that month no less than forty-three died of it on board the Centurion. But though we thought that the distemper had then risen to an
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CHAPTER 8. JUAN FERNANDEZ--THE TRIAL REJOINS.
CHAPTER 8. JUAN FERNANDEZ--THE TRIAL REJOINS.
THE SEARCH FOR JUAN FERNANDEZ. It were endless to recite minutely the various disasters, fatigues, and terrors which we encountered on this coast; all these went on increasing till the 22nd of May, at which time the fury of all the storms which we had hitherto encountered seemed to be combined, and to have conspired our destruction. In this hurricane almost all our sails were split, and great part of our standing rigging broken; and, about eight in the evening, a mountainous overgrown sea took u
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CHAPTER 9. THE SICK LANDED--ALEXANDER SELKIRK*--SEALS AND SEA-LIONS.
CHAPTER 9. THE SICK LANDED--ALEXANDER SELKIRK*--SEALS AND SEA-LIONS.
We were now extremely occupied in sending on shore materials to raise tents for the reception of the sick, who died apace on board. But we had not hands enough to prepare the tents for their reception before the 16th. On that and the two following days we sent them all on shore, amounting to a hundred and sixty-seven persons, besides at least a dozen who died in the boats on their being exposed to the fresh air. The greatest part of our sick were so infirm that we were obliged to carry them out
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CHAPTER 10. REAPPEARANCE OF THE GLOUCESTER--DISTRESS ON BOARD--HER EFFORTS TO ENTER THE BAY.
CHAPTER 10. REAPPEARANCE OF THE GLOUCESTER--DISTRESS ON BOARD--HER EFFORTS TO ENTER THE BAY.
The arrival of the Trial sloop at this island so soon after we came there ourselves gave us great hopes of being speedily joined by the rest of the squadron; and we were for some days continually looking out in expectation of their coming in sight. But near a fortnight being elapsed without any of them having appeared, we began to despair of ever meeting them again. RETURN OF THE GLOUCESTER. But on the 21st of June some of our people, from an eminence on shore, discerned a ship to leeward, with
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CHAPTER 11. TRACES OF SPANISH CRUISERS--ARRIVAL OF THE ANNA PINK.
CHAPTER 11. TRACES OF SPANISH CRUISERS--ARRIVAL OF THE ANNA PINK.
During the interval of the Gloucester's frequent and ineffectual attempts to reach the island, our employment was cleansing our ship and filling our water. The first of these measures was indispensably necessary to our future health, as the numbers of sick and the unavoidable negligence arising from our deplorable situation at sea, had rendered the decks most intolerably loathsome; and the filling of our water was a caution that appeared not less essential to our future security, as we had reaso
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CHAPTER 12. THE WRECK OF THE WAGER--A MUTINY.
CHAPTER 12. THE WRECK OF THE WAGER--A MUTINY.
The remaining ships of the squadron were the Severn, the Pearl, and the Wager, store-ship. The Severn and Pearl parted company with the squadron off Cape Noir and, as we afterwards learned, put back to the Brazils, so that of all the ships which came into the South Seas the Wager, Captain Cheap, was the only one that was missing. This ship had on board some field-pieces mounted for land service, together with some Cohorn mortars, and several kinds of artillery, stores, and tools, intended for th
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CHAPTER 13. THE WRECK OF THE WAGER (CONTINUED)--THE ADVENTURES OF THE CAPTAIN'S PARTY.
CHAPTER 13. THE WRECK OF THE WAGER (CONTINUED)--THE ADVENTURES OF THE CAPTAIN'S PARTY.
When the ship was wrecked there remained alive on board the Wager near a hundred and thirty persons; of these, above thirty died during their stay upon the place, and near eighty went off in the long-boat and the cutter to the southward; so that there remained with the captain, after their departure, no more than nineteen persons, which, however, was as many as the barge and the yawl--the only embarkations left them--could well carry off. It was on the 13th of October, five months after the ship
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CHAPTER 14. THE LOSSES FROM SCURVY--STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE SQUADRON.
CHAPTER 14. THE LOSSES FROM SCURVY--STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE SQUADRON.
EXTRAORDINARY MORTALITY. Our people by the beginning of September were so far recovered of the scurvy that there was little danger of burying any more at present; and therefore I shall now sum up the total of our loss since our departure from England, the better to convey some idea of our past sufferings and of our present strength. We had buried on board the Centurion since our leaving St. Helens 292, and had now remaining on board 214. This will doubtless appear a most extraordinary mortality;
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CHAPTER 15. A PRIZE--SPANISH PREPARATIONS--A NARROW ESCAPE.
CHAPTER 15. A PRIZE--SPANISH PREPARATIONS--A NARROW ESCAPE.
A CHASE. In the beginning of September, as has been already mentioned, our men were tolerably well recovered; and now the time of navigation in this climate drawing near, we exerted ourselves in getting our ships in readiness for the sea. On the 8th, about eleven in the morning, we espied a sail to the north-east, which continued to approach us till her courses appeared even with the horizon. In this interval we all had hopes she might prove one of our own squadron; but at length, finding she st
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CHAPTER 16. THE COMMODORE'S PLANS--ANOTHER PRIZE--THE TRIAL DESTROYED..
CHAPTER 16. THE COMMODORE'S PLANS--ANOTHER PRIZE--THE TRIAL DESTROYED..
By the time we arrived at Juan Fernandez the letters found on board our prize were more minutely examined; and it appearing from them and from the accounts of our prisoners that several other merchantmen were bound from Callao to Valparaiso, Mr. Anson despatched the Trial sloop the very next morning to cruise off the last-mentioned port, reinforcing her with ten hands from on board his own ship. Mr. Anson likewise resolved, on the intelligence recited above, to separate the ships under his comma
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CHAPTER 17. MORE CAPTURES--ALARM OF THE COAST--PAITA.
CHAPTER 17. MORE CAPTURES--ALARM OF THE COAST--PAITA.
DISAPPOINTMENT. Though, after leaving Captain Saunders, we were very expeditious in regaining our station, where we got the 29th at noon, yet in plying on and off till the 6th of October we had not the good fortune to discover a sail of any sort, and then, having lost all hopes of making any advantage by a longer stay, we made sail to the leeward of the port in order to join our prizes; but when we arrived on the station appointed for them we did not meet with them, though we continued there fou
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CHAPTER 18. THE ATTACK ON PAITA.
CHAPTER 18. THE ATTACK ON PAITA.
The town of Paita is situated in the latitude of 5 degrees 12 minutes south, in a most barren soil, composed only of sand and slate; the extent of it is but small, containing in all less than two hundred families. The houses are only ground floors, the walls built of split cane and mud, and the roofs thatched with leaves. These edifices, though extremely slight, are abundantly sufficient for a climate where rain is considered as a prodigy, and is not seen in many years; so that it is said that a
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CHAPTER 19. THE ATTACK ON PAITA (CONTINUED)--KIND TREATMENT AND RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS--THEIR GRATITUDE.
CHAPTER 19. THE ATTACK ON PAITA (CONTINUED)--KIND TREATMENT AND RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS--THEIR GRATITUDE.
These were the transactions of our detachment on shore at Paita the first night; and now to return to what was done on board the Centurion in that interval. I must observe that after the boats were gone off we lay by till one o'clock in the morning, and then, supposing our detachment to be near landing, we made an easy sail for the bay. About seven in the morning we began to open the bay, and soon after we had a view of the town; and though we had no reason to doubt of the success of the enterpr
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CHAPTER 20. A CLEVER TRICK. WATERING AT QUIBO. CATCHING THE TURTLE.
CHAPTER 20. A CLEVER TRICK. WATERING AT QUIBO. CATCHING THE TURTLE.
When we got under sail from the road of Paita we stood to the westward, and in the morning the Commodore gave orders that the whole squadron should spread themselves, in order to look out for the Gloucester; for we now drew near to the station where Captain Mitchel had been directed to cruise, and hourly expected to get sight of him, but the whole day passed without seeing him. DOLLARS AMONGST THE COTTON. At night having no sight of the Gloucester, the Commodore ordered the squadron to bring to,
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CHAPTER 21. DELAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT--CHASING A HEATH FIRE--ACAPULCO--THE Manila GALLEON--FRESH HOPES.
CHAPTER 21. DELAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT--CHASING A HEATH FIRE--ACAPULCO--THE Manila GALLEON--FRESH HOPES.
On the 12th of December we stood from Quibo to the westward. We had little doubt of arriving soon upon our intended station,* as we expected, upon increasing our offing from Quibo, to fall in with the regular trade wind. But, to our extreme vexation, we were baffled for near a month, either with tempestuous weather from the western quarter, or with dead calms and heavy rains, attended with a sultry air. As our hopes were so long baffled, and our patience quite exhausted, we began at length to de
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CHAPTER 22. THE Manila* TRADE.
CHAPTER 22. THE Manila* TRADE.
The trade carried on from Manila to China, and different parts of India, is principally for such commodities as are intended to supply the kingdoms of Mexico and Peru. These are spices; all sorts of Chinese silks and manufactures, particularly silk stockings, of which I have heard that no less than 50,000 pairs were the usual number shipped on board the annual ship; vast quantities of Indian stuffs--as calicoes and chintzes, which are much worn in America; together with other minuter articles--a
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CHAPTER 23. WAITING FOR THE GALLEON--DISAPPOINTMENT--CHEQUETAN.
CHAPTER 23. WAITING FOR THE GALLEON--DISAPPOINTMENT--CHEQUETAN.
On the 1st of March we made the highlands over Acapulco, and got with all possible expedition into the situation prescribed by the Commodore's orders.* And now we expected with the utmost impatience the 3rd of March, the day fixed for her departure. And on that day we were all of us most eagerly engaged in looking out towards Acapulco; and we were so strangely prepossessed with the certainty of our intelligence, and with an assurance of her coming out of port, that some or other on board us were
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CHAPTER 24. THE PRIZES SCUTTLED--NEWS OF THE SQUADRON REACHES ENGLAND--BOUND FOR CHINA.
CHAPTER 24. THE PRIZES SCUTTLED--NEWS OF THE SQUADRON REACHES ENGLAND--BOUND FOR CHINA.
The next morning after our coming to an anchor in the harbour of Chequetan, we sent about ninety of our men well armed on shore, forty of whom were ordered to march into the country, and the remaining fifty were employed to cover the watering-place and to prevent any interruption from the natives. Here it was agreed after a mature consultation to destroy the Trial's prize, as well as the Carmelo and Carmen, whose fate had been before resolved on. Indeed, the ship was in good repair and fit for t
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CHAPTER 25. DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS--SCURVY AGAIN--A LEAK--THE GLOUCESTER ABANDONED.
CHAPTER 25. DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS--SCURVY AGAIN--A LEAK--THE GLOUCESTER ABANDONED.
When on the 6th of May, 1742, we left the coast of America, we stood to the south-west with a view of meeting with the north-east trade wind, which the accounts of former writers made us expect at seventy or eighty leagues distance from the land. We had, besides, another reason for standing to the southward, which was the getting into the latitude of 13 or 14 degrees north, that being the parallel where the Pacific Ocean is most usually crossed, and consequently where the navigation is esteemed
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CHAPTER 26. THE LADRONES SIGHTED--TINIAN.
CHAPTER 26. THE LADRONES SIGHTED--TINIAN.
The 23rd, at daybreak, we were cheered with the discovery of two islands in the western board. This gave us all great joy, and raised our drooping spirits, for before this a universal dejection had seized us, and we almost despaired of ever seeing land again. The nearest of these islands we afterwards found to be Anatacan. The other was the island of Serigan, and had rather the appearance of a high rock than a place we could hope to anchor at. We were extremely impatient to get in with the neare
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CHAPTER 27. LANDING THE SICK. CENTURION DRIVEN TO SEA.
CHAPTER 27. LANDING THE SICK. CENTURION DRIVEN TO SEA.
When we had furled our sails, the remaining part of the night was allowed to our people for their repose, to recover them from the fatigue they had undergone, and in the morning a party was sent on shore well armed, of which I myself was one, to make ourselves masters of the landing-place, as we were not certain what opposition might be made by the Indians on the island. We landed without difficulty, for the Indians having perceived by our seizure of the bark the night before, that we were enemi
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CHAPTER 28. ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN--PLANS FOR ESCAPE--RETURN OF THE CENTURION.
CHAPTER 28. ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN--PLANS FOR ESCAPE--RETURN OF THE CENTURION.
The storm which drove the Centurion to sea blew with too much turbulence to permit of either the Commodore or any of the people on shore hearing the guns which she fired as signals of distress, and the frequent glare of the lightning had prevented the explosions from being observed; so that when at daybreak it was perceived from the shore that the ship was missing, there was the utmost consternation amongst them. For much the greatest part of them immediately concluded that she was lost, and ent
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CHAPTER 29. THE CENTURION AGAIN DRIVEN TO SEA--HER RETURN--DEPARTURE FROM TINIAN.
CHAPTER 29. THE CENTURION AGAIN DRIVEN TO SEA--HER RETURN--DEPARTURE FROM TINIAN.
When the Commodore came on board the Centurion on her return to Tinian as already mentioned, he resolved to stay no longer at the island than was absolutely necessary to complete our stock of water, a work which we immediately set ourselves about. But on the 14th of October, being but the third day after our arrival, a sudden gust of wind brought home our anchor, forced us off the bank and drove the ship out to sea a second time. However, as the weather was favourable, and our crew was now stron
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CHAPTER 30. CHINESE FISHING FLEETS--ARRIVAL AT MACAO.
CHAPTER 30. CHINESE FISHING FLEETS--ARRIVAL AT MACAO.
The eastern monsoon was now, we reckoned, fairly settled, and we had a constant gale blowing right upon our stern, so that we generally ran from forty to fifty leagues a day. But we had a large hollow sea pursuing us, which occasioned the ship to labour much, whence we received great damage in our rigging, which was grown very rotten, and our leak was augmented; but happily for us our people were now in full health, so that there were no complaints of fatigue, but all went through their attendan
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CHAPTER 31. MACAO--INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR--A VISIT TO CANTON.
CHAPTER 31. MACAO--INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR--A VISIT TO CANTON.
The city of Macao is a Portuguese settlement situated in an island at the mouth of the river of Canton. It was formerly a very rich and populous city, and capable of defending itself against the power of the adjacent Chinese governors, but at present it is much fallen from its ancient splendour; for though it is inhabited by the Portuguese and has a governor nominated by the King of Portugal, yet it subsists merely by the sufferance of the Chinese, who can starve the place and dispossess the Por
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CHAPTER 32. A LETTER TO THE VICEROY--A CHINESE MANDARIN--THE CENTURION IS REFITTED AND PUTS TO SEA.
CHAPTER 32. A LETTER TO THE VICEROY--A CHINESE MANDARIN--THE CENTURION IS REFITTED AND PUTS TO SEA.
Mr. Anson now saw clearly that if he had at first carried his ship into the river of Canton and had immediately applied himself to the mandarins, who are the chief officers of State, instead of employing the merchants to apply for him, he would in all probability have had all his requests granted, and would have been soon despatched. He had already lost a month by the wrong measures he had been put upon, but he resolved to lose as little more time as possible; and therefore, the 17th of December
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CHAPTER 33. WAITING FOR THE Manila GALLEON.
CHAPTER 33. WAITING FOR THE Manila GALLEON.
The Commodore was now got to sea, with his ship very well refitted, his stores replenished, and an additional stock of provisions on board. His crew, too, was somewhat reinforced, for he had entered twenty-three men during his stay at Macao, the greatest part of which were Lascars or Indian sailors, and some few Dutch. He gave out at Macao that he was bound to Batavia, and thence to England; and though the western monsoon was now set in, when that passage is considered as impracticable, yet by t
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CHAPTER 34. THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON.
CHAPTER 34. THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON.
As the month of June advanced, the expectancy and impatience of the Commodore's people each day increased, and I think no better idea can be given of their great eagerness on this occasion than by copying a few paragraphs from the journal of an officer who was then on board, as it will, I presume, be a more natural picture of the full attachment of their thoughts to the business of their cruise than can be given by any other means. The paragraphs I have selected, as they occur in order of time a
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CHAPTER 35. SECURING THE PRISONERS--MACAO AGAIN--AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE.
CHAPTER 35. SECURING THE PRISONERS--MACAO AGAIN--AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE.
The Commodore, when the action was ended, resolved to make the best of his way with his prize for the river of Canton, being in the meantime fully employed in securing his prisoners, and in removing the treasure from on board the galleon into the Centurion. The last of these operations was too important to be postponed, for as the navigation to Canton was through seas but little known, and where, from the season of the year, much bad weather might be expected, it was of great consequence that th
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CHAPTER 36. THE CANTON RIVER--NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE--PRISONERS RELEASED.
CHAPTER 36. THE CANTON RIVER--NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE--PRISONERS RELEASED.
The Commodore, having taken pilots on board, proceeded with his prize for the river of Canton, and on the 14th of July came to an anchor short of the Bocca Tigris, which is a narrow passage forming the mouth of that river. This entrance he proposed to stand through the next day, and to run up as far as Tiger Island, which is a very safe road, secured from all winds. CHINESE INQUIRIES. But whilst the Centurion and her prize were thus at anchor, a boat with an officer came off from the mandarin co
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CHAPTER 37. CHINESE TRICKERY.
CHAPTER 37. CHINESE TRICKERY.
Though the ships, in consequence of the Viceroy's permit, found no difficulty in purchasing provisions for their daily consumption, yet it was impossible for the Commodore to proceed to England without laying in a large quantity both of provisions and stores for his use during the voyage. The procuring this supply was attended with much embarrassment, for there were people at Canton who had undertaken to furnish him with biscuit and whatever else he wanted, and his linguist, towards the middle o
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CHAPTER 38. PREPARATIONS FOR A VISIT TO CANTON.
CHAPTER 38. PREPARATIONS FOR A VISIT TO CANTON.
The Commodore, towards the end of September, having found out (as has been said) that those who had contracted to supply him with sea provisions and stores had deceived him, and that the Viceroy had not sent to him according to his promise, he saw it would be impossible for him to surmount the embarrassment he was under without going himself to Canton, and visiting the Viceroy. And therefore, on the 27th of September, he sent a message to the mandarin who attended the Centurion to inform him tha
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CHAPTER 39. STORES AND PROVISIONS--A FIRE IN CANTON--SAILORS AS FIREMEN--THE VICEROY'S GRATITUDE.
CHAPTER 39. STORES AND PROVISIONS--A FIRE IN CANTON--SAILORS AS FIREMEN--THE VICEROY'S GRATITUDE.
BARGAINING. When the Commodore arrived at Canton he was visited by the principal Chinese merchants, who affected to appear very much pleased that he had met with no obstruction in getting thither. They added that, as soon as the Viceroy should be informed that Mr. Anson was at Canton, they were persuaded a day would be immediately appointed for the visit, which was the principal business that had brought the Commodore thither. The next day the merchants returned to Mr. Anson, and told him that t
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CHAPTER 40. ANSON RECEIVED BY THE VICEROY--CENTURION SETS SAIL--TABLE BAY--SPITHEAD.
CHAPTER 40. ANSON RECEIVED BY THE VICEROY--CENTURION SETS SAIL--TABLE BAY--SPITHEAD.
THE VICEROY. At ten o'clock in the morning, on the day appointed, a mandarin came to the Commodore to let him know that the Viceroy was ready to receive him, on which the Commodore and his retinue immediately set out. And as soon as he entered the outer gate of the city, he found a guard of two hundred soldiers drawn up ready to attend him; these conducted him to the great parade before the Emperor's palace, where the Viceroy then resided. In this parade a body of troops, to the number of ten th
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GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
Anchors: Bower anchors (the best bower and the small bower). The anchors carried at the bows of a vessel. The sheet anchor (= shoot anchor). An anchor to be shot out or lowered in case of a great danger, carried abaft the forerigging; formerly the largest anchor. Bag-wig. See Wig. Barge. See Boats. Bilging. To bilge = to be stove in, or suffer serious injury in the bilge, which is the bottom part of a ship's hull. Boats: Barge. The second boat of a man-of-war; a long narrow boat, generally with
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