the receipt is in Mr. Harry Smith's hand, of| Spanishtown; so that I am safe enough. There have not been wanting people to instil jealousies into the Muskito men, whom he always has exposed. Some merchants at Jamaica did the same unto him. Your Excellency may be assured that all the idlers and desperadoes are a burden to them. The greater part of my navy is now rendezvoused at this place, or dispatched to the Pearl Keys, where, or at Cape Blanco, we shall wait for the rest. They are but four from the Cape that may be depended on, and with them we shall make but nineteen periauguas, which I am told is a very extraordinary number, considering I have not been able to stir from this place. The tardiness of those that stay behind I hope may prove a good motive to their better behavior in some future expedition. From the present spirit that is raised amongst us, this is hopefull enough if one shamefull neglect which I have scarce patience to write don't defeat us. The powder I received is all damaged cannon powder. Pearson has surely done it on purpose, or don't know the one from the other; for I desired him many times to be particularly careful to let me have good pistol powder, knowing I would be exposed to woods and rains. I have but 3,000 ball. However, it must do. I hope to get better from Little Breeches. I pray God to bless your Excellency, and send me good luck, who am your Excellency's most obedient and devoted humble servant, ROBERT HODGSON. Senock Dawkra, April 12th, 1740. I I beg your Excellency to excuse this last paragraph, being extremely hurried. I send this packet inclosed to Pitts and Atkins to forward, whose house I shall go to at my return, and I should be glad to find there further instructions from your Excellency. XII. friend in Panama to another in Carthegena, [Endorsed on the back, "Letter from one May 7th, 1740."] PANAMA, 7th May, 1740. Dear Sir:-The 27th of last arrived here a credula of the King's, ordering to remove from hence the treasure which we brought for the celebration of the Fair, either to Lima, or some nearer port in the south sea, on account of the apprehensions they are under of a squadron of five men-of-war they are fitting out in England with great preparations, who they suppose are designed for these seas. We have resolved to go to Guayaquil, and from thence to carry the treasure by land to Quito. It is now actually on board the Capitana and Admiranta, which will sail about two days hence. give us a good delivery. God These novelties have determined don Antonio de Villar, a gentleman whom I highly esteem, to go to Carthagena to buy goods. He will tell you his motives, which seem to me good ones. I shall be obliged to you to assist him in all your power, and to take notice that whatever the goods amount to will be delivered to Pinto in Quito, who accompanies us thither with the gold and silver he has under his charge. This you may do, securely assuring you that there will be no difficulty in the payment. Immediately on our arrival at Quito, we shall despatch an express to Carthagena, with the advice of the treasure being there safe, and free from Vernon, whom the devil fetch. P.S.-Had I been better informed, might have made a little fortune on your Excellency's money, and done more justice to the cause; for the Muskito men have not got half guns enough, so must be supplied by Stewart and the other white men that go with us, who no doubt will make them pay severe. They don't like muskets so well as Don Blas de Lezo has written to this light long fusees. I could wish to have one president to encourage all in his power this hundred such, and two barrills of good pow-commerce to go from Quito to hold the der, and lead proportionable, to meet me here at my return, for the next expedition. But, upon second thought, it may not be advisable to go upon another till I have been back to Jamaica, unless I go alone and in disguise among a certain nation, with an interpreter that may be trusted. fair at Carthegena, assuring him that he will do every thing in his power to facilitate the affair. In this confidence, Villar determined to go thither, and I am persuaded that the most part of this commerce will do the same, their patience being quite wearied out. The difficulties they will undergo will be very great, but for all that they will certainly go, more particularly if the goods can be bought at such prices as to bear the immense charges they will be at in carrying them from Carthagena to Lima, which is about 1000 leagues; and the hopes of buying them cheap in Carthagena will be a means to engage this commerce to go thither, being the only recompense which can be given them for such immense labor and charges. I brought with me from Lima some Bezoar stones as a present to you, which I do not send now, because of the uncertainty of the conveyance; the bearer hereof carrying no more than two changes of linen, that he may lose as little by the enemy as possible should he fall into their hands. He will tell you with what fears we have been and [Endorsed," Extract of the proceedings of Charles Wimbleton, Lieutenant of His Majesty's ship the Worcester, after the loss of the ship Triumph Prize."] On the 7th of February last, I went (at the [word illegible] near Porto Bello) with twenty-seven men on board a French sloop, Monsieur Devaugh commander, seventy men and ten carriage guns, who had taken on board a Spanish merchant and his servant as passengers for Curasoe or St. Domingo, in order to proceed to Old Spain, with five chests and one bag of silver, one bag of gold and 230 cerons of cocoa which they brought from the shore after my coming on board. The commander of the French sloop having sent his boat up to the Samblaas for turtle, he weighed and went thither after her; where he saw a sloop which proved a privateer belonging to New-York, but last from Jamaica, John Lush commander, twelve carriage guns and sixty men, who had information from a Dutch sloop of this Frenchman and of the Spaniards being aboard; and he apprehended that the Frenchman would come to that place to take up his boat. Therefore, so soon as the French: man anchored, the privateer commander sent his boat on board to inspect into the force and condition of her. When the boat came on board the Frenchman inquired what the sloop was, which lay in shore. They returned for answer that she was a trader, six weeks from Jamaica, bound to Porto Bello to dispose of the small quantity of goods she had remaining. The next morning the privateer weighed, and turn'd up to the Frenchman, and as soon as they came within gun-shot, the Frenchman fired one gun at her. The privateer immediately lowered his mainsail and sent on board, but still kept standing towards the Frenchman, whose commander ordered another shot to be fired. But on seeing the boat coming to the sloop, I asked him why he would fire again, when he saw the boat coming to the sloop. He said it was very probable that the sloop would be on board before the boat; notwithstanding which, he fired the second shot. Then the privateer sloop stood with his head the other way, and Lush, the commander, came on board, who gave an account of himself as above mentioned. And, furthermore, that he heard there was an officer belonging to the King of Great Britain, with some men who had been cast away, and that he came to offer his service to carry them to Jamacia, should they choose to take a passage with him. I told him I was the officer, and that if he proved to be what he represented, I would, with my people, go thither; but first insisted on seeing his vessel, which he readily consented to. And in our way on board he told me that what he had said before with regard to his being a trader was wrong; for he was a privateer, and had information of the French sloop with the Spaniards on board from two Dutchmen, and was there in order to take her, which he intended to do. And at his going on board he called all hands up and ordered them to their quarters, which occasioned me to desire him to desist from the measures they then They answered they thought they could not use a Spaniard too cruel; and if they whipped them to death there was no sin in killing a Spaniard; and they would use an Englishman in the same manner if in their power. They then told me they whipped them to make them confess what effects they had on board the French sloop, which they did as to the money and cocoa already mentioned. Lush took possession of the French sloop, and put most of the Frenchmen ashore on a small island, where they remained five days, while he unloaded the sloop of her cocoa and money. intended to take; for that the Spaniards I took up my commission and held it up to were to give £1100 for their freight to Cu- him, and asked if he fired at the King of EngHe replied he would rasoa, and that I believed if he would pay land's commission? the Frenchman that sum affairs might be fire at his father on such occasions; and mitigated without bloodshed. I likewise directly fired two guns more. Upon which told him how kind and humane the French the Frenchman ordered his men to fire. captain had been to me and the rest of his But I jumped forward and took the matches majesty's subjects, in offering frankly to give out of their hands, and told them there must us our passage in his sloop without cost be no fighting. Then the captain ordered or charges. Upon this, Lush consulted his his people off the deck out of the way of the quarter-master and crew, who unanimously privateer's shot. The privateer fell on board agreed that the Frenchman should have his the French sloop and I got into his, and defreight; but never paid him a farthing in sired they would not use the Frenchmen ill. Nevertheless Lush went on board the Frenchthe end. I was apprehensive that it would come to man and ordered the two Spaniards into his an open rupture; therefore used all the ar- sloop, where he whipped them in a barbagument I could to persuade Lush to come rous manner, with cat-o'-nine-tails. I asked to an anchor, and not to go near the French-him how he could use prisoners of war in so man, which he complied with. Then we barbarous a manner. went on board the French sloop and dined. I acquainted the French captain with what passed between Lush and me, and at the same time he showed the Frenchman his commission, and acquainted him he had a right to take all Spaniards and their effects wherever he could find them. Therefore he insisted that the Spaniards, their money and goods shall be delivered up to him. The Frenchman replied there was not so much money on board as he had been informed, and that they had no effects belonging to them; and likewise that he looked upon Mr. Lush at that time as his guest, and Whilst these things were in agitation, a would treat him as such, and whenever he behaved in another manner, he was ready sloop appeared in the offing. Lush immedifor him. Upon this I told the Frenchman ately weighed and stood after her, leaving that since I was to use my utmost endeavors part of his people to take care of the French to get with my men to Jamaica, I could sloop from Porto Bello for Carthagena; she not omit this opportunity. Thereupon I had on board several passengers with their immediately sent half of my men on board effects. Lush took the mate, who was an Lush. The captain of the Frenchman desired Irishman, and whipped him in a terrible that I would take his merchant with me, manner, to make him confess where the The poor man told him he who could speak English, to treat with the money was. company. They sent an answer by their knew of no money, but if there was any he quarter-master, who went with the merchant might make sure of it, being in possession and me; but before we got on board the of their sloop. One of the passengers was Frenchman again, the privateer weighed an ensign of marines who formerly belonged and stood for the French sloop, who observ- to the Triumph. Lush was about to whip ing this, cut her cable and got to sail. As him also, but I interposed, and told him he soon as I got on board the French sloop, had the King of Spain's commission, and I the captain of the privateer fired a gun with threatened to knock down the first who The should touch him. Lush said he looked on sanguerage into the French sloop. the King of Spain's commission as nothing; but I persisting in my resolution, he was released and stript of every thing, as were also the whole crew, and turned ashore on sloops were very near, so that I waved my a small key, where they were taken off by a | would proceed no farther. I was a good Dutch sloop. Otherwise they must have deal surprised at their latter demand, after perished. Lush returned to the French sloop their having agreed so solemnly to the conand took his men on board. The French trary at Sandy Bay. The governor offered sloop proceeded on her voyage to Curasoa, me all their plunder to comply, but I sent and I and my people came in Lush to Ja- them word to go home as soon as they maica. C. WIMBLETON. pleased. After seven messages and debates, it was agreed that if they brought any it should be as friends and countrymen, and to show them the goodness of liberty and of friendship with the English. I have been since told by several of them that all this stir was caused by the white people, of whom there were about ten, and most of them have proved the very [word illegible] I exposed. On the 13th we sailed again, passed by Carpenter's River, and on the 14th came to Monkey Point, near which we found one Captain Allen, who had been shipwrecked in the bad weather which happened about three weeks before. He had saved Jamaica, 11th May, 1740. I hereby declare that the contents of the above written extract are true, and that the said extract is of my own hand signing. St. Jago de la Vega, May the 13th, 1740. C. WIMBLETON. Sworn before me, the 13th day of May, 1740. XIV. [Endorsed, "Mr. Hodgson to his Excellency, from June 21st, 1740, to July the 12th. "Cherokee River, near Boco del Drago, 21st June, 1740. Mr. Hodgson to Gov. Trelawny."] } CHEROKEE RIVER, near Bocca del Drago, June 21st, 1740. May it please your Excellency :-I hope my last from Sandy Bay, dated the 6th and 12th of April, came safely to hand. The southerly winds prevented our sailing from that place till the 17th, on which day we set out with eight periauguas, for the Pearl Keys, where we arrived on the 19th, and found the governor and his Indians with twelve periauguas. He had waited for us ten days, having kept his knots punctually, though the mulattoes had exceeded theirs near a fortnight. We sailed again the same day for Monkey Bay, and got in the next, and were detained there by foul weather eleven days. On the 1st of May we sailed again for St. Johns, (which is the middlemost of the three rivers by which the Lake of Nicaragua discharges,) and there we tarried twelve days cutting oars and looms and building dories. There is a castle three days' march up this river, which I proposed attacking, and a fortified town above it, which, if we had taken, we might have gone directly to Nicaragua, Leon and Granada. But the Muskito men were so averse to it, that they declared if I would not let them go on their own way and make slaves of the Spanish Indians as usual, they But his people and goods, and had them lodged I am plored. Next to the Cocos and the Vaheu- commerce afraid of them. Hopkins' body and those of his crew lay unburied and stuck through with lances upon the Carcening Key. They have lately killed four English soldiers who had either deserted or been blown off the coast of Jamaica in a long-boat, and two negroes. Between the keys and the main is the largest and most commodious harbor in the West Indies. From the first Bogue to the second are five leagues; from that On the 21st of May we left this place, to the third, seven-all gradual anchoring ground; turtle, mantee, &c., in the greatest (Cherokee,) and sailed for Coccelee; stopt plenty, and the sweetest I ever tasted. at several rivers, from one of which I sent There is said to be gold enough upon the four dories with three men to surprise the opposite main, especially among the Oalien- look-outs. In the mean time a sloop aptas, who are a few leagues to the eastward, peared in the offing, whom we could not And tell what to make of; so made a fire the but are as feared and savage as any. some are said to be among the Helaskees, next morning, and bushed all the periauguas who are a mild, good-natured nation. The except two, believing if he was a Dutch Muskito men once made a commerce with trader that he would send his canoe ashore, them, but an Englishman called John Lock as he did. But oversetting in the surf, only He was a Spanish Indian and a negro got ashore. broke it in a scandalous manner. afterwards sorry, and tried to renew it by send- The rest with much difficulty righted the ing up two of the slaves he had stole, to let canoe, and, perceiving the Muskitos, rowed them know he was coming up the river in a off in a hurry; which, with the suspicious friendly manner. They sent him word to account of the Indian, gave us room to think begone, or they would cut his head off; her a Spaniard. We push'd out directly which he not regarding, they met him and with fifteen periauguas to take her. The were as good as their word. I write this rest of my line-of-battle vessels left us and letter from Cherokee, one of their rivers, and stay'd behind. When we came almost up would gladly go up to try what can be done with her, we plainly saw she was a Dutchwith them; but the Muskito men tell me man; so left the chase and hastened to 'tis vain. The names of the Indian nations Coccelee, where we were informed that sevfrom Blanco are, first, the Blancos, the Sien- eral thousand pieces of eight were coming ebos, the Tenibes, the Sanguinas, the Helas- down the river from Panama, St. Jago, and kees, the Cocas, a nation of whom the other towns, to trade with the Dutchman. Bocca Dragos tell an incredible story. But That in the first were forty thousand pieces since the Muskito men all believe it, and ready for that purpose, besides what was in two Bocca Dragos whom we kept till yester- the others. I sent dories ahead to paddle day affirm they have fought with them often, softly up the river, and that night they I must tell it to make up a travelling intercepted a prebend of Panama with 290 letter. They are people with long tails pieces of eight and 3 ingots of gold weighby which they hang to the ridge-poles of ing about 1000 castellanas. (We had taken their houses, and sleep all the day. At night about 500 pieces from the canoe and lookThe men outs before.) Next day they took about 750 they awake and walk about. nurse the children; the women fight; their pieces from two Spanish peasants, and 103 armor is three or four lances in their left small lumps and balls of gold. We row'd hand, and a target of mountain cowhide on up the river all that night and the next day, that arm. One lance in the right, with and the third night about 10 o'clock came which they are very dextrous and too hard to the branches of the river, where I left a for their neighbors, who perhaps upon that white man and ten Muskito men to intercept account have raised this piece of Indian scan- all that came down and to guard the Indian dal. But the Muskito men are very posi-prisoners, of whom I left ten bound. Two tive. Was Bocca Drago cut off and the commerce with the Helaskees renewed, this savage part of the world might soon be ex of the best, with the padre and six Spaniards, we took with us for pilots, and row'd up with the utmost expedition for the Barcadore of |
