On Thursday the 18th of September 1740, sailed from St Hellens his majesty’s ship Centurion, Commodore Anson, with the Gloucester, Pearl, Severn, Wager, and Tryal, and two storeships; this squadron was design’d round Cape Horn into the South Seas, to distress the Spaniards in those parts. The ships were all in prime order, all lately rebuilt. The men were elevated with hopes of growing immensely rich, and in a few years of returning to Old England loaden with the wealth of their enemies.

Saturday the 20th, the Ram-head bearing N by W half W distant four leagues, the commodore hoisted his broad pendant, and was saluted by every ship in the squadron, with thirteen guns each. This day join’d company with us his majesty’s ships, Dragon, Winchester, Chatham, South-Sea-Castle, and Rye Galley, with a large convoy of merchant ships.

Thursday the 25th, we parted company with the Winchester and the South-Sea-Castle, with their convoys, bound for America.

On Monday, we parted company with the Streights and Turky convoys.

Friday, October the 3rd, at eight in the morning, we saw two brigantines to the south-east; the commodore gave a signal to chace; at nine fired two shot to bring ’em to; at ten spoke with the chace, being two brigs from Lisbon, bound for New York.

Sunday the 26th, about five in the morning, the Severn showed lights, and fired several guns ahead; soon after we saw the land bearingWby S and at noon the east end of Madeira bore north, distant five leagues.

Wednesday we moored in Fonchiale [Funchal] road, so called from a city of that name, which is the metropolis of the island of Madeira; here we employ’d most of our time in getting aboard water, and stowing our dry provisions between decks.

Tuesday, November the 4th, Captain Kidd our commander was removed on board the Pearl, and the Honourable Captain Murray succeeded him in the Wager. Captain Norris of the Gloucester having obtained leave to return to England, on account of his ill state of health, occasioned the above removals.