to the captain, We can have no enemies to encounter there, but Indians in their canoes, and those we can master at our pleasure.  The captain then seemed to countenance our opinion again, and said, When we come to St Julian’s we shall be sure of salt in plenty for our provisions, without which our fowls will not keep above two or three days:  Besides, when we come to the river Plate, we may meet with a prize, they not being acquainted with any English vessel like ours, with schooner’s sails, by which means we may run up the river and take a larger vessel:  If we fail here, we may go ashore, and get what cattle we please, but what business have we at the Rio Grand?  We must go to the Rio Janeiro.  I told him, we should be obliged to stop at every place along shore for supplies; at St Catharine’s the governor will give us a certificate, so that we shall be known to be the people that were there in the squadron.  The captain said, That’s true, and I can get bills of credit in any part of Brazil; besides, the people may be separated, some in the Flota, and some in other ships, with less hands we may go to Barbadoes.  Mr Cummins told him, we might venture to England with, twelve hands.  Yes, you may, says the captain, with thirty.  It is to be observed, during all this debate, the lieutenant spoke not a word.  The carpenter asking him the reason of his silence in all the consultation, he answered, I’ll give my opinion hereafter.  The captain said, I knew nothing of his being acquainted with it, till Mr Bulkeley told me yesterday; but at the same time, Mr B——­s, I expect, you will be the first that will sign the paper.  I imagined the captain meant our paper, and immediately answered, with some warmth, As he had refused signing at first, and at the same time agreed to the proposal, that I had signed so close, that there was no room left for his name, and now it was too late for him to sign.  The captain surprized me, by saying, I don’t mean your paper; I told him, Any other, which should be contrary to ours, would never be signed by us.  Mr Cummins said to the captain, Sir, ’tis all owing to you that we are here; if you had consulted your officers, we might have avoided this misfortune, considering the condition the ship was in, she was not fit to come in with the land, all our men being sick, and not above three seamen in a watch; suppose the mast had gone by the board, as was every moment expected.  The captain made answer, Gentlemen, you do not know my orders; there never were any so strict given to a commander before, and had I but two men living besides myself, I must, and was obliged to go to the first rendezvous, which was the island of Nostra Senhora di Socora:  I was obliged to go there at all events.  I made answer to this, Sir, if that is the case, it seems plain the thing was designed we should be here:  But, sir, I am of opinion, notwithstanding the commodore had his orders from ——­ to go with the squadron to Baldavia, that at the same time those