they might be as ſure of finding the Pyrates, as the Pyrates are to find the Merchant Ships; and if the Pyrates are not to be met with by the Men of War in ſuch a Latitude, then ſurely down the ſame Latitude may the Merchant Ships arrive ſafely to their Port.
To make this a little plainer to my Country Readers, I must obſerve that all our outward bound Ships, ſometime after they leave the Land, ſteer into the Latitude of the Place they are bound to; if to the Weſt-India Iſlands, or any Part of the Main of America, as New-York, New-England, Virginia, &c. becauſe the Latitude is the only Certainty in thoſe Voyages to be found, and then they ſail due Weſt, till they come to their Port, without altering their Courſe. In this Weſt Way lie the Pyrates, whether it be to Virginia, &c. or Nevis, St. Chriſtophers, Montſerat, Jamaica, &c. ſo that if the Merchant Ships bound thither, do not fall a Prey to them one Day, they must another: Therefore I ſay, if the Men of War take the ſame Track, the Pyrates muſt unavoidably fall into their Mouths, or be frighted away, for where the Game is, there will the Vermin be; if the latter ſhould be the Caſe, the trading Ships, as I ſaid before, will paſs unmoleſted and ſafe, and the Pyrates be reduced to take Refuge in ſome of their lurking Holes about the uninhabited Iſlands, where their Fate would be like that of the Fox in his Den, if they ſhould venture out, they would be hunted and taken, and if they ſtay within they muſt ſtarve.
I must obſerve another Thing, that the Pyrates generally ſhift their Rovings, according to the Seaſon of the Year; in the Summer they cruiſe moſtly along the Coaſt of the Continent of America, but the Winters there, being a little too cold for them, they follow the Sun, and go towards the Iſlands, at the approach of cold Weather. Every Man who has uſed the Weſt-India Trade, knows this to be true; therefore, ſince we are ſo well acquainted with all their Motions, I cannot ſee why our Men of War under a proper Regulation, may not go to the Southward, inſtead of lying up all the Winter uſeleſs: But I ſhall proceed too far