filment of his promise, to bring the frigate into the inner harbour, abreast of the town. This step, they assured him, must restore confidence to the inhabitants, who would then speedily re-assemble; while an apprehension of the ship’s broadside might keep the enemy at a distance.
“The most serious objection to the measure which the Spaniards urged upon us, was the extreme danger to which H.M. ship must be exposed by entering a narrow harbour, completely commanded by heights, to which she could not elevate her guns, but where an enemy, not resisted by military, might take up a position at any moment, and thence, by means of artillery, knock her to pieces at their leisure. Added to this, there was a powerful battery at the entrance of the harbour, sufficient of itself to slop a much larger ship than the Endymion. Of course, the Spaniards undertook to garrison this fort; but we had seen too much of the distinction which these warriors made between promise and performance, to think of relying upon such an engagement.
“Nevertheless, as there would have been some indelicacy in making difficulties dependent upon our own chance of danger, and as it appeared to be of some consequence to shew how truly the English were in earnest in the common cause, it was determined to run the hazard of bringing the ship into harbour. On the 17th of April, accordingly, we sailed in, and moored close off the town. On that very day, the wind chopped round to the southward, and in the evening it blew very hard – so much so, that had we been then assailed by a skilful enemy, possessed of the heights, and furnished with guns, and troops enough to prevent our landing, we must either have been sunk at our anchors, or have surrendered at discretion, after the greater number of the crew had been killed. To have beat out against such a breeze would have been impossible. * * * *
“Now that we had brought our ship within range of the enemy’s shot, it became of consequence to establish for ourselves something like a proper system on shore; and for this purpose. Lieutenant Thruston, who enjoyed as much of the confidence of the Spaniards as any foreigner can ever hope to gain, and who had by this time become personally acquainted with the useful men amongst them, endeavoured to rally their forces, and once more to muster them in strength. I ought to have mentioned, that before entering the harbour, we took the liberty of disarming the battery at the entrance, by pitching its guns into the sea – a proceeding to which the Spaniards reluctantly consented. * * * *
“On the morning of the 18th, just as the day broke, the first scene of the recent tragedy was acted over again – the whole harbour was once more covered with boats, crowded with the inhabitants flying from the town, while all the roads were choked with, fugitives as before. No enemy being in sight, we felt disposed to ascribe this to some panic; but, on sending a boat to enquire, we learned that a peasant had arrived with news of a large French force being again near the town, accompanied by a train of heavy cannon. This sounded disagreeably enough; but still
