none--would have been a national crime.

As one of my modes of providing for the necessities of the squadron has
not been mentioned, it must be here given.

Under the Spanish régime, no foreign vessel could trade at their ports
in the Pacific. But, for the sake of revenue as well as to obtain
supplies, it had become the practice of the Viceroy to sell licences,
enabling British merchants to employ British vessels in the Spanish
Colonial trade. These had to load in some port in Spain, and were there
furnished with legalized Spanish papers.

Under the altered state of things in Chili, in order to secure such
vessels from capture by the Chilian ships of war, as having Spanish
property on board, the device of simulated papers was resorted to,
representing the cargoes as British property, coming from the port of
Gibraltar; one set of papers being used ashore, and the other afloat, or
as occasion required. Several British vessels had been detained by the
Chilian squadron, whereof the Spanish papers were found in the Peruvian
custom-houses when taken possession of; they were accordingly liable to
be libelled as Spanish property.

In order, however, to land their cargoes in safety, the commanders and
supercargoes of such British vessels voluntarily offered terms which
should confer upon their trade a legitimate character, viz. to pay a
certain impost as an equivalent for customs' duties. I accepted these
terms as furnishing me with means to supply the necessities and defray
the expenses of the squadron, the wants of which were with great
difficulty supplied, as the Protectoral Government refused to aid in
any way, notwithstanding that it owed its very existence to our efforts.