lying nearly becalmed, a Spanish guard-boat, rowing 12 oars, and having a crew of 15 officers and men, including the second captain of the 34-gun frigate Maria-de-la-Cabeya, at anchor in Cavita, came on board, to inquire what ships the strangers were, and whence they came. Mr. Bernard, the pilot of the Fox, and who spoke French and Spanish, informed the visiting officer that the two frigates belonged to M. Sercey's squadron ; that they had been cruising on the coast of China, and that, the crews being sickly, they were come to Manilla for refreshment, as well as to form a junction with the Spanish squadron, a part of which, a hope was expressed, would accompany them to sea. The Spanish captain said, in reply, that be had been directed by the governor to acquaint them that their wants should be supplied ; but that be believed none of the ships in the port could be got ready in less than two months, as they were in want of every species of stores, and their crews were sickly.

At this moment Captain Cooke came on board, and Captain Malcolm introduced him as Commodore Latour ; a name that, as the Spanish captain was doubtless as ignorant of that officer's death as the two British captains, answered as well as any other. To the new commodore many questions were put ; and, having in full recollection the ability he had about four years before displayed at Toulon, we can have no doubt that Captain Cooke acted his part to the life. A very interesting, and, to one of the parties at least, very instructive conversation ensued, and lasted nearly an hour, during which the ceremony of drinking success to the united exertions of the Spaniards and French against the British, was not forgotten. Having pumped every thing they wanted out of their unsuspecting guest, and observing other boats approaching from the shore, Captains Cooke and Malcolm made known who they really were. The Spanish captain nearly fainted with astonishment ; but a bumper of Madeira, coupled with an assurance that he should not be detained as a prisoner, recovered him.

Meantime the two boats had pulled alongside. One was Admiral Don Martin Alaba's barge, rowing 20 oars, with 23 officers and men, including the governor's nephew ; the other a felucca, rowing 20 oars, with 23 officers and men, and among them one of Admiral Alaba's aides-de-camp, bringing compliments of congratulation on the safe arrival of their friends the French, with information, that all the latter could want or wish would be supplied ; and that launches, with anchors and cables to assist the frigates into the harbour, were getting ready.

As soon as these new visiters had joined their friends in the Fox's cabin, no other point being, now to be gained by deception, they also were made acquainted with the rusé that had been played off upon them. If they were surprised and mortified at first, the rear-admiral and his suite were still more so on witnessing, as they soon did, the success of another part of the

^ back to top ^