nturion_ and _Gloucester_, took
their departure from the coast of Mexico, hoping that in a few weeks
they would arrive at Canton, whither they were bound.  During this
passage the scurvy again broke out with almost as much severity as
before.  At first they were favoured by the trade wind until the end of
July, afterwards heavy weather came on, during which the gale carried
away the _Gloucester's_ topmasts, and she sprung so bad a leak that it
seemed impossible she would keep afloat; and finally her commander,
Captain Mitchell, begged to be taken on board the _Centurion_ with his
crew.  The commodore came therefore to the resolution of destroying her,
although with her went a large quantity of valuable goods.  The weather
became calm, and the boats were at once engaged in removing the sick,
but three-fourths of them expired before they could be got on board the
_Centurion_.

Captain Mitchell's last act before leaving the _Gloucester_ was to set
her on fire, and she was thus deserted.  When she had been left about
four leagues astern, she blew up.  The noise made by the explosion was
slight, but a dense black pillar of smoke shot up to a considerable
height in the air.  Thus perished H.M.S. _Gloucester_.

On the 26th the Ladrones were sighted, and the ship stood towards
Tinian, prepared for an encounter should the Spaniards attempt to attack
her.  To deceive them Spanish colours were hoisted, and the ship was
made to look as much as possible like the Manilla galleon.  The cutter
was then sent in shore.  Soon afterwards a proa came off to meet her,
and was captured and brought back in tow.  In her was a Spaniard, with
four Indians.  One of these was a carpenter by trade.  Wishing to get
away from the place, he very willingly shipped on board the _Centurion_.
The Spaniard gave so favourable an account of Tinian, that all were
cheered with the prospect of landing there.  He stated it to be
uninhabited, but used by the Spaniards at Guam as a store for supplies
for their garrison, of which he was a sergeant, sent here 