with ſome European veſſel to obtain ſupplies to enable us to wait for a more favourable period to round Cape Horn.
How far I may be right in my conjecture muſt be decided by future trials, but I am very much diſpoſed to believe, that the tar we had on board was of a bad quality, and deſtroyed not only the copper but iron, and was, in ſome degree, the cauſe of our leak: for the copper, wherever it was paid with it, was become as thin as paper, and the copper-headed nails, as well as thoſe of iron, had received conſiderable injury.
June 29.On the twenty-ninth we reached as far Northward as 16° 50′ South, and made the coaſt of Peru; 30.on the thirtieth at noon we were within a few miles of the ſhore, and not ſeeing any ſhips, we conceived our opinion of a war with Spain was confirmed, and the only rational alternative left us, was to brave all the difficulties that we experienced and was further threatened with; and force ourſelves as ſoon as poſſible out of them, by loſing no time in getting round the Cape into the Atlantic; this being determined we took our departure for England. As we ſtretched to the Southward, the wind hung more to the Eaſtward of South, than on the former part of our voyage.
