“Anson’s Voyage,” as well as in the histories of the old “Buccaneers;” – at Guayaquil, the principal port of Quito; – at the Galapagos, an uninhabited group of volcanic islands, scattered along the equator, at the distance of 200 leagues from the main land, and serving as a place of resort for ships employed in the whale fishery; – at Panama, then occupied by a detachment of Bolivar’s troops; – at Acapulco, a name familiar to the memory of most people, from its being the port whence the rich Spanish galleons, of former days, took their departure to spread the wealth of the Western over the Eastern world; – and at San Bias near the gulf of California, where he arrived on the 28th March, 1822, having completed a coasting voyage from the island of Mocha, on the south coast of Chili, a distance of 4,600 miles; during the whole of which, with exception of about 200 leagues between Guayaquil and Panama, the land was constantly in sight.
As no English man-of-war had ever before anchored in the port of San Bias, the arrival of the Conway created considerable interest; and she was scarcely secured before boats were seen bustling on board, from all quarters, to enquire for and to give news. On the next day. Captain Hall set out for the neighbouring town of Tepic, to learn the state of the commercial intercourse with England, and whether he could in any way contribute to advance the interests of the British trade in that quarter. On his arrival there, he had several conferences with the merchants of that place, and with the agents of those at Guadalaxara, the capital of New Galicia; when it appeared, that the commercial capitalists of this part of Mexico were desirous of opening, for the first time, a direct communication; and, in order to do this safely and effectually, they proposed to remit a considerable quantity of specie to London, in the Conway, for which returns were to be made in English goods, in the manner practised ever since the opening of the trade in Peru, Chili, and Buenos Ayres. After a long discussion, he agreed to remain till a certain day, to give time for communications to be held with Guadalaxara, and with Mexico, it being necessary to obtain permission from the Supreme Government, before any treasure could be exported.
