At the Cape of Good Hope.
THis is to acquaint you of our safe Arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, December, 29, 1710. with our Prize the Acapulco Ship, call’d Nuestra Señora de’l Incarnation y Disengano, commanded by Monsieur John Pechberty, and now call’d by us the Batchelor Frigat, mounted with 20 Great Guns, and 20 Brass Pattereroes, and mann’d with 116 Men, a firm Ship, and each of our Ships are mann’d with 120 Men each, in Company with 3 English East-India Ships, and do expect 3 Sail more every Day. The Dutch Ships from Batavia (which are 12 Sail of stout Ships) are expected here every Hour, and six Sail more from Ceilon, which Fleet we are resolved in Council to accompany to Holland, except we have an Account of Peace, or happen to meet with an English Convoy in crossing our Latitudes. Our Ships are all fitted with every thing necessary, and only wait for the Fleet, which we expect will sail by the last of March. Hoping God will so direct us, that we shall come with Speed and Safety to yourselves, and the rest of our Friends, to whom we render all due Respects, and remain, Gentlemen,
Your most humble and most obedient Servants,
| Tho. Dover, Pres. | William Stretton, |
| Woodes Rogers, | Charles Pope, |
| Steph. Courtney, | Tho. Glendall, |
| Edward Cook, | John Connely, |
| Wm. Dampier, | John Ballett. |
| Robert Fry, |
We being now likely to spend so much Time here, and the Duke having been very leaky all the way betwixt Batavia and this Place, and considering the long Passage we had to England, I moved to the Council that we might go to Sardinia Bay to careen. ’Twas debated some time before betwixt me and Capt. Courtney pro and con; and to be farther satisfy’d, on the 13th Capts. Cook, Fry and Stretton were appointed to come aboard, and we had a Survey of Carpenters concerning the Leak. After some Rummage, they agreed ’twould be very dangerous to attempt any thing within-board, and no other way but Careening would do, which Capt. Dover and the Majority would not consent to; so that we are forc’d to lie in as bad a condition as ever, only now and then mitigate the Leak with a Bonnet,[152] which is of no long continuance in the Harbour, much less when we come to Sea. This Day about Noon the Batavia Fleet came in, being 11 Sail. The Fort saluted the Flag with 21 Guns, and all the English Ships saluted likewise, except mine, which being upon the Heel,[153] could not do it.
Feb. 26. Having been very weak, and kept my Chamber for several Days, but now something better, I sent for most of my Officers ashore, that I might be thoroughly satisfied what was wanting aboard, in order to go home with the Dutch Fleet; and being too weak, and made uncapable of assisting to get any thing, I deliver’d in the said Account to Capts. Dover, Courtney and Cooke, with the rest of the Committee, that we might not be hurried to Sea without Necessaries for Subsistance.
On the 27th we made a Rummage for Bale Goods to dispose of ashore, having Leave of the Governour, and provided a Store-house, where Capt. Courtney, with the Owners Agent took their turns weekly during the Sale of them.
Nothing remarkable happen’d till the 3d of April, but that on the 13th of March 4 Dutch Ships came in from Ceylon, 3 of them having lost their Main Masts, and being otherwise much damaged by a violent Storm they met with in Lat. 18. S.
I took in more Water and Provisions, sent more Goods ashore to the Storehouse, and disposed of 12 Negroes.
On the 28th of March a Portuguese Ship from Brasile came in with advice, that 5 Stout French Ships attempted Rio Janiero, but were repuls’d, and had a great Number of Men kill’d, and 400 taken Prisoners by the Portuguese.