Part 5
P. 123. He has a falsity too flagrant to be believed at all. “I could perceive, says he, with my perspective an enemies boat pass within pistol shot of my pinnace, but captain _Hatley_, who commanded, never offered once to follow her, or bring her to: _Hatley_ truly said he did not mind her, tho’ his boat’s crew all agreed that she was full of men:” This he exults upon mighty captain-like; but I affirm that _Hatley_ did chace her immediately, and we were all well enough diverted with it; he following her quite cross the bay till he came within reach of the enemies guns on the platform; from whence they fired twice at him, and so well aimed, that in all probability the third would have sunk him, or made him the head shorter, the shot being eighteen pounders. This I am sure was in the sight of ten thousand people round the bay; for all that part of _Chili_ was alarm’d, and whosoever was fit to bear arms appeared here to see the issue of our exploits.
_Shelvocke_ having taken here, just after coming into the port, a small prize bound from _Lima_, found by letters she brought from the merchants there, that the coast was alarm’d to norward by one of _Clipperton_’s prizes retaken by the _Spaniards_: but this he keeps a secret from us, and resolves now to get rid of his men as fast as he can; therefore sends away lieutenant _Randal_, and an officer of marines, with about twenty five men, in a small bark which we took in the bay, to attack a little vessel that was hawl’d up almost dry, in a creek about six or seven miles from us: _Shelvocke_ must needs have known that there could be nothing in her, since it was no secret to the _Spaniards_ that we were an _English_ privatier. The vanity of this attempt wants no explanation of mine, since he hath sufficiently described the folly and misfortune of it himself, p. 125. which is worth reading: there he lost five of his men, risquing their lives to take an empty, vessel: and the only incouragement he had of success from this undertaking, was from the boatswain of a small _Spanish_ prize which he took a day or two before, who was already grown so very sincere a friend, and so heartily in our interest as to give us prodigious informations: and upon the credit of this man, _Shelvocke_ pretends he sent the poor fellows to make this new experiment; which I may venture to say has proved our captain to be no politician.
After this he tells you, p. 127, the men murmur’d and grew very uneasy, damning the _South Seas_----as well they might, being thus order’d upon fools errands, without any hopes of making a good voyage for themselves; destined as it were for mere tools to carry on his own selfish ignorant projects. And yet _Shelvocke_, with a bold face and harden’d heart, says, even this too was their own fault. In short his conscience is an original; his book is an original, and he is an original; but I hope in God neither of ’em will ever be copied.
Captain _Clipperton_ persued his voyage directly from the _Cape Verd_ islands, and I do think it somewhat extraordinary, and well deserving the reader’s remark, that the _Success_ arrived at the entrance into the streights of _Magellan_ on the 30th of _May_ 1719, being 52 and 30 south latitude. But _Shelvocke_ could not find his way to St. _Catherine_’s, in latitude 27 : 30 south, till the 20th of _June_ following, by his own account, p. 17.
I shall transcribe captain _Clipperton_’s procedings as minuted down in Mr. _Taylor_’s journal.
_Success, May 29._ “This day at noon I make my course from the westermost point of the island _Fogo_, one of the _Cape Verd_ islands, latitude 14 : 40 N. to _Cape Virgin Mary_, the north point of the entrance into the freights of _Magellan_, in latitude 52 : 15 S. to be S. 29 : 00 W. the distance 1580 leagues, mer. dist. 36 : 04 W. longitude 44 : 18 W.”
_May_ the 30th. “Fresh gales and squally for the first part these twenty four hours, but fairer towards the latter end. This afternoon we anchored in the streights of _Magellan_, in ten fathom water. The south point of the entrance call’d _Queen Catharine’s Foreland_, bearing then S.S.W. five leagues, and _Cape Virgin Mary_ N. by E. one league. It makes like a large deep bay. We weigh from hence the next day, proceding farther till we come to _Queen Elizabeth_’s islands; where we send our pinnace ashore on the main, having found a fresh water river, but frozen up. We saw several flocks of geese and ducks, but were very shy. Our surgeon’s mate remains on shore. One _Robert Dawson_, a saylor, departed this life. Our surgeon’s mate was brought on board in the morning almost dead with the cold. At ten in the morning we weighed and made sail.”
_June_ the 7th. “Fresh gales and fair weather the first part, but the later much snow. At two this afternoon anchor’d in forty fathom water, the northmost point of _Elizabeth_’s Island bore S. W. one league, St. _Bartholomew_’s island E. by S. two leagues: the yawl was sent ashore to gather greens. This place affords great quantity of a sort of wild sellary, which very much refreshed our men, and is good salading enough.”
_June_ the 13th. “These twenty four hours squally with snow. We find here a good watering-place. Here is a fine wood, most hazel, with some tall beach trees, several of which are fit for masts.”
---- 14. “Sent our launch ashore with our empty casks: captain _Clipperton_ and the carpenter went this morning ashore to look for a good stick for a mizen-mast, and find a good one ready fell’d. At noon the captain return’d with some wildfoul. Our men gather muscles and limpets in great plenty. Here we begin sorely to feel the want of our wine and brandy: and our men by frequent eating shellfish to help out with their allowance, are much troubled with the scurvy.”
20. “Cloudy weather, with much sleet and rain. Our launch brought on board her loading of wood, which we stowed away among the cask: at five this morning clear’d the hause and brought the small-bower on board: hoisted the launch in; at eleven our pinnace brought on board a mizen and mizen-top-sail-yard, with a new studdinsail-boom, and got ready to sail.”
21. “Weighed this forenoon at eleven. The tide being spent, stood into a small bay, but could find no ground with seventy fathom line; so were obliged to run to leeward again. Winds from S. W. to N. W.”
22. “Fresh gales and squally: at one this afternoon anchored in a fine bay in fifteen fathom, shingly ground: the northmost point of _Port Famine_ N. by W. five leagues, and the southmost point of the small bay, which we christen’d _no Bottom Bay_, S. by E. four mile. At seven we weighed again plying to the southward; we had this day a good amplitude, and find the variation to be 14° : 15´ northerly. All the trees along shore are very tall; their tops cover’d with snow; the land prodigious high, so that we have strong flaws of wind almost continually: fresh water to be found in every bay.”
29. “A canoe with four _Indians_ came on board us, being two men a woman and a boy: they are of a middle stature, dark complexion, a broad roundvisage, low fore-heads, black hair, very lank and short, with no cloathing but a skin to cover the middle: they had a small streak round the skin of their wrists, of a fine azure blue: they would not suffer the woman to come on board: captain _Clipperton_ ordered them some bread and cheese, which they eat greedily, but would not touch a drop of brandy. They brought us some wild geese and ducks, which they exchanged for knives: they had a fire in the midship of their canoe, which is made of the bark of trees sewed together. They had bows and arrows, and some fishing tackle. After two hours stay they went ashore, making signs they would come again. To day we buried _Thomas Camfield_ a marine.”
30. “Cloudy weather: our pinnace went ashore this afternoon at one, and returned at six, and with them the _Indian_ canoe loaden with large muscles, which they truck’d with our people for bread, and what else they could get.”
_July 1._ “Moderate weather: our pinnace was sent ashore to fetch one of our men that tarried there yesterday, but could not find him. Our surgeon’s mate had one of his toes cut off, mortified with cold that night he stay’d ashore. At seven forenoon loosed both topsails; at nine weigh’d, and our pinnace brought the man aboard: an _Indian_ canoe came on board; and one of them steping in, and being under fresh way, the rest of his companions held fast the towline, till they were almost hawl’d under water: so they were forced to let go the rope, and the _Indian_ remain’d on board. _Cape Froward_ bore at noon E. 14 mile; _Point Gallant_ N. E. by E. four mile.”
2. “Moderate weather at half an hour past four this afternoon anchored in twenty fathom, small sand and shells. The body of _Prince Rupert_’s island bore south three mile: the low point of the bay we were in N. W. one mile. Another _Indian_ canoe came on board: the woman they had wore a necklace of small beautiful shels, nicely strung, which went five or six turns round her neck; it look’d, at a small distance, like a pearl one. At seven this morning weigh’d and try’d the strength of the current, which ran about two knots.”
3. “For these twenty four hours strong gales of wind and cloudy weather: this afternoon at one anchor’d in thirty one fathom; small stones and shells. Point _Middleton_ W. by S. two leagues, and the point of St. _Jerom_’s found N. W. by W. four mile: the tide run two knots and a half. At five in the afternoon, being high water, sounded in twenty seven fathom, at ten, forty five fathom, at twelve, forty five fathom, the ship having tail’d out. At four in the morning we found she drove: brought the cable to the capston and hove; but the tide running strong to leeward, and a fresh gale, she drove very fast: so that half past five we were forced to cut away the anchor with half the cable: and before we could get our sails set we were just aboard _Prince Rupert_’s island, having fifty fathom close to the side of it: but our sails filling, we had the good fortune to run off; and were forced quite back to _Point Gallant_ bay, where we anchor’d in fourteen fathom.”
5. “These twenty four hours strong gusts of wind, with much snow and rain. At night dy’d Mr. _John Crawford_: several more fall ill: captain _Shelvocke_ has many curses: at six forenoon our pinnace was sent ashore to get greens and other refreshments for the sick men. Winds at W. and N. W.”
7. “These twenty four hours strong squalls of winds: lowered our fore and main yards, at three this afternoon moor’d the ship. Mr. _William Pridham_ our master gunner departed this life: buried one _Thomas Oldfield_.”
8. “These twenty four hours pretty moderate weather: at four this afternoon got up our lower yards: at eleven this morning we buried our gunner ashore, under a triple discharge of our small arms: and had an end of a strong plank drove down at the head of his grave, inscribed with his name, the ship’s name, with the month and year.”
10. “Squally weather with snow. At two this morning lower’d our yards again: at five _Francis Doyle_, one of our marines, died. The pinnace kept constantly imploy’d in fetching muscles and other shellfish: and the wild sellery, already mentioned, being the only eatable we can yet discover.”
11. “Moderate gales and hazy weather, with snow. At three this afternoon clear’d the hause: at seven this morning got up the yards again; this day put our ships company to shorter allowance of six to two, _i. e._ one piece of beef or pork for six men.”
17. “At eight in the forenoon weighed again, and at noon anchor’d in _York Road_, which is the same place we were drove out from when we lost our anchor; it is gravelly ground: _Point Middleton_ W. S. W. three leagues, _Cape Quad_ W. by S. five leagues.”
18. “Hazey weather with rain and snow. At half an hour past nine this evening the ship drove, it being loose sandy ground; hove up the anchor and stood into the bay. At eleven anchor’d in eight fathom: our buoy being staved, weighed the best bower to bend another, and so let it drop again. Moor’d: winds at W. N. W.”
20. “This morning captain _Mitchel_ and lieutenant _Davison_ went in the pinnace to _Terra del Fuego_ or the south shore, in order to make a discovery of the passage that the _French Tartan_ is said to have went thro’ into the _South-Sea, May 1713_, and to see if there was any anchoring beyond _Cape Quad_; being furnish’d with all necessaries for that purpose.”
29. “The pinnace return’d, having found the passage thro’ which the _Tartan_ pass’d, but so narrow, that it was judged hazardous to go far that way: but their provisions fell short, and that place affording no manner of supply, they were forced to return before they could satisfy themselves throughly: yet they found several good bays to the N. W. of _Cape Quad_ to anchor in. The _Indians_ gave them a seal, which they broyled and roasted, and said it eat as well as any venison.”
_August 1._ “Captain _Mitchel_, with three more of our officers took the pinnace at six this forenoon, and resolve this time to inform themselves of the truth concerning the passage already mentioned into the _South-Sea_, and see if ’twere practicable for us to go through. Our other boats go a wooding and watering. This morning died _Thomas Parry_ corporal of marines.”
5. “Captain _Mitchel_ returns: but found no such passage to go thro’ into the _South-Sea_, as Monsieur _Frezier_ would make us believe. It’s true they found a narrow streight which led them into a spacious bay full of ice: but no passage through.”
I shall transcribe no more from _Taylor_’s journal of what happen’d to them in these streights: what I have taken is for the information of my seafaring reader, and to shew him the many fatigues that _Clipperton_’s men were harrassed with in mooring and unmooring; their struggling with contrary winds and currents; the loss of their anchor, and their narrowly escaping a shipwreck against _Rupert_’s island: all which will easily convince him that to go through _le Mair_ streights and round _Cape Horne_, is the safest and shortest navigation: Besides, the _French_, who have carried on a constant trade to those seas for almost thirty years, have always chosen it: add to this that captain _Clipperton_’s endeavours to find out the passage through _Terra del Fuego_, talked of by _Frezier_, demonstrate that he would gladly have been out of the streights as soon as he could: but _Mitchel_, who was a good seaman and curious enough, having made two essays, which took him up a fortnight, returned without finding any new passage: so that it’s very doubtful whether any _Tartan_, or other imbarkation ever past that way; tho’ _Frezier_ has fondly imagined it a new discovery, and has marked it in his chart, which also is faulty in other respects.
_August 18._ Captain _Clipperton_ got out of the streights of _Magellan_, proceding directly towards _Fernandes_, lat. 33 : 30 S. being the third and last place of rendezvous, where he arrives on the 7th of _September 1719_. According to his instructions he stays here a month for _Shelvocke_, and if he had stay’d four, he must then have gone without him. Captain _Clipperton_ not being able to conjecture what was become of the _Speedwel_, gives her up for lost: however, before he weighed he sent captain _Mitchel_ ashore to set up a cross, burying at the foot thereof a bottle, wherein was a letter for captain _Shelvocke_, directing another place of rendezvous and some proper signals to know each other at sea: but fearing that two of his men who had there deserted and absconded in the woods, might mischievously take down the said cross; he had his own name and _Magee_’s the surgeon, carv’d in the bark of one of the largest trees first presenting it self at landing.
_Taylor_’s Journal _Sept. 8. 1719_. “This being the last place of rendezvous to meet with or hear of the _Speedwel_: we find no signal nor footsteps of her; which gives us all no small uneasiness.”
---- 9. “At eight this morning sent sixteen men ashore: three of them die soon after they land, cursing _Shelvocke_ with their dying breath, for running away with our wine and brandy. The truth of it is, our case is deplorable enough; for we have not a drop of either to chear the languishing spirits of our sick men: and we that at present, through the providence of the Almighty, injoy our health, cannot help being dejected to think how soon it may come to our turns to be taken with sickness.”
14. “Uncertain weather with rain. This day our boats bring eighteen goats aboard: sent ashore for some salt; our men having found here a good quantity ready made, which was left by some of the _French_ ships who often touch here.”
28. “We continue to get our wood and water aboard, and our ship in a posture for sailing.”
_Oct. 6._ “Moderate gales of wind and fine weather. Captain _Mitchel_ with some more of our officers go in the pinnace to the east part of the island to look four of our men, who have absented a fortnight: two of which men they found in the custody of our goat hunters, having met with them when in persuit of their game, saying they had greater difficulty in securing these fellows, than in killing double the number of goats: for at first they were forced to fire several times at them before they would surrender. They told our men that for the first five days they were hard put to’t, being forced to subsist wholly on the cabbage-trees, of which here is great plenty; but that having by good fortune one night found some fire that was left by our hunters, it served them in good stead, for they could then dress their fish and fill their bellies. Our pinnace is sent ashore to launch the longboat. Salted more fish, and brought off four cask more of seal.”
7. “Got all our people off the island into the launch, with most of the things we had on shore; leaving the two men that run away to take possession of _Alexander Selkirk_’s habitation, who was taken off this desolate place by captain _Rogers_ in 1709; after having liv’d here above four years alone. Captain _Mitchel_ goes ashore to set up a cross with a bottle buried at the foot of it, wherein is a letter for captain _Shelvocke_. At five this morning unmoord, and at eight weighed.”
The names carved as aforesaid on the bark of the tree stood thus, as I saw them.
Captain _John ----_ _W. Magee._ 1719.
The reason why _Clipperton_’s surname is omitted, was because he was well known in the _South-Seas_: and if any _Spaniards_ or _French_ who occasionally touch there had seen it, the discovery of the name might probably have alarmd the coast of _Chili_ and _Peru_.
This done, captain _Clipperton_ holds his course to the norward, soon arriving in the parallel of _Lima_: which being the chief scene of action, he stands off and on at a convenient distance, to prevent being descryed from the shore; where he had cruised but a small time, before he made himself master of several prizes: but necessity obliging him to send at least two officers, besides a sufficient number of his men on board each prize, it weaken’d him very much, so that he soon grasped more than he could hold. Add to this the low condition of his men, both by sickness and a reduction of their allowance that they were not overable to work the ship; besides the loss of thirty men, who dyed between the equator and this place. The misfortune of all this will best be seen in what follows: for in _November_ the _Success_ giving chase to a fresh sail a head, the last taken prize was run away with by the _Spaniards_, who by stratagem got the better of the few _English_ that were put aboard her in a hurry: while the enemy, with manifest risque of their own lives, ran their ship ashore among the rocks, and alarmd all the coast.
--Here follow _Taylor_’s own words.
_Success_, _November_ the 20th. “Fresh gales and fair weather. Yesterday at three in the afternoon we were surprized to see that when we made the signal to tack and stand off from the land, our last taken prize instead of observing the same, made sail for the shore as fast as she could, she being then the sternmost and nearest the shore, while we stand off, having another sail in view.”
21. “Little winds and fair weather. At three this afternoon finding the pink that yesterday stood in for the shore was run away with by the _Spaniards_, we begin to think it now full time to send all the _Spanish_ prisoners ashore, as well to save our provision, as to let the _Spaniards_ ashore have early notice of our good treatment towards those we had taken; that our men may be used after the same manner.”
From this period, therefore, I date the breaking of our scheme, and the ruin of our voyage; of both which captain _Shelvocke_ was intirely the author. This I need not labour to prove, because it’s manifest if _Shelvocke_ had joyned _Clipperton_, and been here at his duty, the loss of this prize had not happened; or which is infinitely worse, the alarming of the _Spaniards_: upon whose security the greatest hope of our enterprize was founded.
From this misfortune of _Clipperton_ on the coast of _Peru_, and the wilful mismanagement of _Shelvocke_ in rousing all the coast of _Chili_, a stop was put to the success of both our ships, and the consequence was an imbargo laid by the Viceroy of _Peru_, which was enough to check all our growing wishes and expectations. Here then we must a while leave captain _Clipperton_, who could do nothing effectually without the assistance of our ship, which he now thought had quite deserted him, or was cast away: and if the _Speedwel_ had joyned him, his prizes could not have grown so numerous: for ’twas designed, that one of the ships should carry the captures to the desert islands to leeward, where the prisoners might have subsisted on their own provisions; we sinking the first taken ships, to leave them no opportunity of alarming the coast, ’till the work were done, and our fortunes made. According to _Clipperton_’s own scheme, who projected and commanded this voyage, our greatest dependance was in this parallel: _Lima_ being the grand mart of all trade and business carryed on from _North_ to _South_ on this vastly extended rich continent.
Here I think it worth observing that captain _Clipperton_ can no way deserve censure in his conduct, having hitherto, tho’ under a hard lot, acted justly and prudently: but what can be the merits of captain _Shelvocke_, who after providentially escaping the violent tempest at first setting out, makes his own ill use of it, and would never again endeavour to meet his consort; but shun’d it with all the craft imaginable? What recompense can _Shelvocke_ make for the indecent censures and cruel reflexions thrown upon the memory of the dead? Certainly _Clipperton_ deserved better from a man to whose wilful mismanagement all his misfortunes are justly imputed: and ’tis no wonder, if he took to drinking, after having miscarryed in three voyages to the _South-Seas_: the two first by circumvention of the _Spaniards_, and this last by the treachery of one who should have been his consort and friend: ’tis what we see daily in people undone by the baseness of men and the frowns of fortune. As to the humanity of our two commanders, there is certainly this difference between them; _Shelvocke_ took care on all occasions, to risque the lives of his men that few might remain witnesses of his falshood, and the dividends of those who did survive might rise in greater proportion: for out of his 106 men carryed from _Plymouth_, he brought only 25 to _China_; whereas _Clipperton_ brought most of his thither; and behaved with generosity and good temper, witness his concern for his men, who were run away with in the prize lately mentioned, and his good treatment of the enemy; since he did not care how soon the _Spaniards_ went ashore to give what account they thought fit of him.