“May 31.  Exercising our men at their quarters, in great expectation of meeting with the galleons very soon; this being the eleventh of June their stile.”

“June 3.  Keeping in our stations, and looking out for the galleons.”

“June 5.  Begin now to be in great expectation, this being the middle of June their stile.”

“June 11.  Begin to grow impatient at not seeing the galleons.”

“June 13.  The wind having blown fresh easterly for the forty-eight hours past, gives us great expectations of seeing the galleons soon.”

“June 15.  Cruising on and off, and looking out strictly.”

“June 19.  This being the last day of June, N.S. the galleons, if they arrive at all, must appear soon.”

From these samples it is sufficiently evident, how completely the treasure of the galleons had engrossed their imagination, and how anxiously they passed the latter part of their cruise, when the certainty of the arrival of these vessels was dwindled down to probability only, and that probability became each hour more and more doubtful.  However, on the 20th of June, O.S. being just a month from their arrival on their station, they were relieved from this state of uncertainty; when, at sun-rise, they discovered a sail from the mast-head, in the S.E. quarter.  On this, a general joy spread through the whole ship; for they had no doubt but this was one of the galleons, and they expected soon to see the other.  The commodore instantly stood towards her, and at half an hour after seven they were near enough to see her from the Centurion’s deck; at which time the galleon fired a gun, and took in her top-gallant sails, which was supposed to be a signal to her consort, to hasten her up; and therefore the Centurion fired a gun to leeward, to amuse her.  The commodore was surprised to find, that in all this time the galleon did not change her course, but continued to bear down upon him; for he hardly believed, what afterwards appeared to be the case, that she knew his ship to be the Centurion, and resolved to fight him.

About noon the commodore was little more than a league distant from the galleon, and could fetch her wake, so that she could not now escape; and, no second ship appearing, it was concluded that she had been separated from her consort.  Soon after, the galleon haled up her fore-sail, and brought-to under top-sails, with her head to the northward, hoisting Spanish colours, and having the standard of Spain flying at the top-gallant-mast-head.  Mr Anson, in the mean time, had prepared all things for an engagement on board the Centurion, and had taken all possible care, both for the most effectual exertion of his small strength, and for the avoiding the confusion and tumult too frequent in actions of this kind.  He picked out about thirty of his choicest hands and best marksmen, whom he distributed into his tops, and who fully answered his expectation,