t-handed, it was a long time before sail could be
made on her.  For many days she had been beating up to windward, until
she had got back as described.

The Commodore now lived on board.  The same accident again occurred, and
the ship was driven out to sea, leaving seventy of her men on shore.
After five days, however, she got back again, and having completed her
water, sailed on 21st of October for Macao.

The _Centurion_ was for some time beating along the coast of China,
among countless fishing-boats, until she came to an anchor off Macao on
the 12th of November.  She remained at this port for five months, until
the health of her crew had been re-established.

Captain Anson here had the satisfaction of learning that the _Severn_
and _Pearl_, the two ships which had separated from the squadron, had
arrived safely at Rio Janeiro.  Of the sad fate of the _Wager_, and the
loss of the larger number of her officers and crew, he did not receive
intelligence till his return home.  He was annoyed by the extortionate
demands made by the Chinese carpenters for the necessary repairs of the
ship, while he had considerable difficulty at times, in consequence of
the behaviour of the Chinese authorities, in obtaining provisions.

At length, on the 19th of April, all being ready, the _Centurion_ made
sail and stood out to sea, her crew increased by several Lascars and
Dutch, so that she was now in a condition to resume hostilities.  Before
Anson left Macao, he let it be understood that he intended to touch at
Batavia on his homeward voyage, but he had formed a very different
decision.

The Manilla galleon, not having sailed from Acapulco, in consequence of
his appearance off that place, calculating that there would be two
vessels this year instead of one, he determined to cruise off the island
of Samal in the hopes of intercepting them.  He at first kept this plan
to himself, but as soon as the ship was at sea he summoned the crew on
deck and informed them of his intentions.  The place he intended to
cruise off was Cape Espiri