In the mean time the feamen had climbed up CHAP. the walls of the lower battery and ftruck the co- III. lours, and then drew the foldiers up after them, to whom the Spaniards, who had retreated to the 1739. upper part of the fort, foon furrendered at difcre

tion.

Their number was only five officers and 35 men out of above 300, the reft being either killed or wounded, or having made their escape: they firft fhut themselves up in a strong lodgment, but upon the English firing a gun through the door, they foon opened it, and begged for quar

ters.

THE fhips that went in before the admiral were fallen to leeward, fo as to be out of fight of the Gloria Caftle; but the admiral's fhip lying open to this castle, they kept firing one of their largeft guns at him till night, but not being within point blank, their shot either fell fhort or went over him, only one fhot went through the head of his fore-top maft just above the rigging; fo that it did no other harm.

THE admiral finding the Spaniards continued their firing tryed fome of his lower tier at them, which being new guns answered beyond expectation, carrying over the Gloria Castle into the town, none of the fhot falling fhort, and one of them going through the governor's house, fome through other houfes in the town, and one funk a floop under the Gloria Caftle.

THIS fuccessful beginning was attended with a very inconfiderable lofs, there being only three men killed and five wounded on board the admiral's fhip, the like number were killed and wounded on board the Worcester, and one man had both his legs fhot off on board the Hampton-Court; the other fhips had none killed or wounded, and only two foldiers were fhot going G 2 afhore,

PART afhore, one of which died foon after of his I. wounds.

THE next morning being the 22d, the admiral 1739. went on board Commodore Brown to call the captains to confult together, and give out the neceffary orders for warping the fhips up the next night in order to attack the Gloria Castle the night following, as it would not have been practicable to attempt it in the day time: but in this he was prevented by the enemy's putting up a white flag at the Gloria Caftle, and fending a boat with a flag of truce to the admiral, with the governor's adjutant and a lieutenant of a man of war, who brought the conditions figned on which they defired to capitulate; which were, “ That "the government would deliver up all the fort"ifications, provided they might be allowed to "march out with the honours of war, have an "indemnity for themselves, the town and the "inhabitants, and be permitted to enjoy all the

fhips in the harbour." This last could by no means be accepted, for the admiral refolved to have all the fhips, being the very ships that had done the English merchants the injuries complained of on thefe coafts. Accordingly the admiral immediately drew up the forms on which he would admit them to capitulation, and difpatched them back again, allowing them only a few hours to take their refolution: but within the time limited they accepted the conditions offered them on which "ARTICLES OF CAPITULA

46

TION granted by Vice Admiral Vernon and "Commodore Brown, to Don Francifco Martines de Retez governor of Porto Bello, and "Don Francisco de Abarea commandant of the "Guarda Coftas at the fame place," were prepared and executed the fame day as follows.

By

By the ft. The garrifon were allowed to CHAP. march out as defired, upon condition the king III. "of Great Britain's troops were put into poffeffi"on of Gloria Caftle before four of the clock 1739. "that evening, and the garrifon to march out by ten the next morning.

66

"THE inhabitants might either remove or remain, under a promise of fecurity for themfelves and their effects.

2d." THAT the Spanish foldiers might have "a guard if they thought it neceffary.

3d. "THAT they might carry off two can"non mounted, with ten charges of powder for "each, and their match lighted.

66

4th." THAT the gates of Gloria Caftle should " absolutely be in poffeffion of the British troops by four of the clock; and the Spanish garrison fhould remain in all fafety for their perfons and "effects, till the appointed time for their march❝ing out, and to carry with them the provisions and ammunition neceffary for their fafety. 5th." THAT the fhips with their apparel " and arms, should be abfolutely delivered up to the ufe of his Britannic majefty; but that "all the officers, both foldiers and crew, fhould

have three days allowed them to retire with "their perfonal effects; only one officer being

admitted on board each fhip and veffel, to "take poffeffion for his Britannic majefty, and "fee the articles ftrictly complyed with.

6th." THAT provided the articles were ftrictly complyed with, and that poffeffion "was given of the caftle of St Jeronimo, in the "fame manner as ftipulated for the Caftle Glo❝ria; then the clergy, the churches, and town "fhould be protected, and preferved in all their "immunities and properties.

" AND

PART

1.

1739.

"AND that all prifoners already taken, "fhould be fet at liberty before their leaving "the port."

BEFORE night the admiral fent Capt. Newton, who commanded the detachment of foldiers from Jamaica, with about 120 of the foldiers, who took poffeffion of Gloria Castle and St Jeronimo fort; being the remaining fortreffes that guarded the harbour; the Gloria Caftle lying juft below the town, and St Jeronimo just above it.

THERE were in the harbour two Spanish mea of war of 20 guns each, and a fnow; the crews of which, feeing the regular and bold attack which was made on the Iron Fort, and despairing of being able to defend themselves, fell to plundering the town in the night of the 21ft, and committed great outrages on the inhabitants.

THE admiral took on board his fhips from the feveral fortreffes forty pieces of brass cannon, ten brafs field pieces, four brafs mortars, and eighteen brafs patteraroes; and rendered unferviceable above eighty iron cannon, by knocking off their trunnions and spiking them up: he alfo took on board all their fhot and ammunition, except 122 barrels of powder, which he expended in fpringing mines, by which all the fortifications of the town were blown up and entirely demoJifhed, and the harbour left open and defencelefs.

TEN thousand dollars that were arrived and defigned for paying the Spanish troops at Porto Bello, falling into the admiral's hands, he diftributed them among the forces for their encou ragement.

ON the 23d the admiral ordered all the captains Not to fend any of the boats afhore, without an officer for whofe conduct they would

"be

III.

"be refponfible; and as fecurity from plunder- CHAP. ing perfons and effects was granted by the capitulation, they were strictly to prohibit it's being put in practice in any fort; and to affure 1739. whoever attempted it, they fhould not only "be punished for the infraction of the capitula"tion, but be deprived of their fhare of the feve"ral captures that were fecured for a reward of "their gallant discharge of their duty." And for intercepting any thing that might be coming into or going out of the harbour without permiffion, the admiral gave orders "For a lieu"tenant with a barge well manned and armed "to be on duty on board the weftermoft fhip "every night, to keep guard there the whole "night, rowing every now and then cross the "harbour; and alfo a fufficient guard to be nightly mounted every watch to prevent fur

prizes." The admiral tender of the national honour of his country, and knowing how neceffary it was for a lenient and mild ufe of his conqueft, to cultivate a good opinion among the Spaniards of the British faith and integrity, thereby to promote the private trade on the coaft, and to eradicate thofe abominable notions of English heretics, villains and cruel fpoilers, inftilled among the inhabitants by the craft and fubtilty of the jefuits; for this purpose he dif perfed the ftricteft orders among the fquadron, "Punctually and religioufly, inviolably to pre"ferve to the Spaniards, the conditions of their "capitulation, and the other humane conceffions "granted to them fince, as agreeable to the "inclinations of his royal mafter and the nature "of an Englishman."

THE admiral was joined at Porto Bello on the 27th by the Diamond Capt. Knowles; and

on