War commiſſion’d for ſeveral Years past, but three times her Compliment of Men have offer’d themſelves in 24 Hours; the Merchants take their Advantage of this, leſſen their Wages, and thoſe few who are in Buſineſs are poorly paid, and but poorly fed; ſuch Uſage breeds Diſcontents amongſt them, and makes them eager for any Change.
I ſhall not repeat what I have ſaid in the Hiſtory concerning the Privateers of the Weſt-Indies, where I have taken Notice they live upon Spoil; and as Cuſtom is a ſecond Nature, it is no Wonder that, when an honest Livlyhood is not eaſily had, they run into one ſo like their own; ſo that it may be ſaid, that Privateers in Time of War are a Nurſery for Pyrates against a Peace.
Now we have accounted for their Riſe and Beginning, it will be natural to enquire why they are not taken and deſtroy’d, before they come to any Head, ſeeing that they are ſeldom leſs than twelve Men of War ſtationed in our American Plantations, even in Time of Peace; a Force ſufficient to contend with a powerful Enemy. This Enquiry, perhaps, will not turn much to the Honour of thoſe concern’d in that Service; however, I hope I may be excus’d, if what I hint is with a Deſign of ſerving the Publick.
I ſay, ’tis ſtrange that a few Pyrates ſhould ravage the Seas for Years, without ever being light upon, by any of our Ships of War; when in the mean Time, they (the Pyrates) ſhall take Fleets of Ships; it looks as if one was much more diligent in their Affairs, than the other. Roberts and his Crew, alone, took 400 Sail, before he was deſtroy’d.
This Matter, I may probably ſet right another Time, and only obſerve for the preſent, that the Pyrates at Sea, have the ſame Sagacity with Robbers at Land; as the latter underſtand what Roads are most frequented, and where it is most likely to meet with Booty, ſo the former know what Latitude to lie in, in order to intercept Ships; and as the Pyrates happen to be in want of Proviſions, Stores, or any particular Lading, they cruiſe accordingly for ſuch Ships, and are morally certain of meeting with them; and by the ſame Reaſon, if the Men of War cruiſe in thoſe Latitudes,