they had found me there in ſo capital a ſhip as the Rattler, and in ſo defenſeleſs a ſtate as ſhe then was, armed with only two three-pounders, and half a dozen old muſquets[1].
- ↑ As there have been various miſrepreſentations of the real ſtate and progreſs of the tranſactions between Don Martinez, commander of certain ſhips in the ſervice of his moſt Catholic Majeſty at Nootka Sound, and ſeveral trading veſſels belonging to ſubjects of Great Britain, which threatened to produce a rupture between the two courts; and, as thoſe miſrepreſentations may be hereafter repeated, I ſhall beg leave to give a fair and correct ſtatement of thoſe tranſactions, ſo far as I was unfortunately involved in them: the reſt of that unpleaſant buſineſs is detailed at large, and accompanied by authentic documents, in the Appendix to the voyage of Captain Mears, publiſhed in London, 1790.
It is unneceſſary upon this occaſion, to have recourſe to any circumſtances in that unfortunate voyage, prior to the time when I appeared off Nootka, viz. the third day of July, 1789. At nine in the evening, when it was almoſt dark, we hailed a boat; and the perſons in it deſiring to come on board, their requeſt was immediately granted. It proved to be a Spaniſh launch, with Don Eſtevan Martinez, commodore of ſome Spaniſh ſhips of war, then lying in Friendly Cove: we were viſited at the ſame time by another Spaniſh launch, and the boat of an American ſhip. I had no ſooner received Don Martinez in my cabin, than he preſented me a letter from Mr. Hudſon, commander of the Princeſs Royal Sloop, which was under my orders. The commodore then informed me, that the veſſels under his command were in great diſtreſs, from the want of proviſions and other neceſſaries; and requeſted me, in a very urgent manner, to go into port, in order to afford him the neceſſary ſupplies. I heſitated, however, to comply with this demand, as I entertained very reaſonable doubts, of the propriety of putting myſelf under the command of
