employed on that coast copper-bottomed; especially, when there is a
probability of detention: for, in our expedition, the bottoms of
the ships, not being coppered, which went with the first equipment
from Jamaica, were in a short time so entirely eaten by the worms,
as to become useless; and, had not fresh ships been dispatched from
Jamaica, the remains of the troops must have perished there, for
want of transports to bring them away.

"Lord Nelson, Duke of Bronte, then Captain Nelson, was the person
who commanded the Hinchinbroke man of war, the convoy of the
expedition. On his authority I state, that the fever which
destroyed the crews of the different vessels, invariably attacked
them from about twenty to thirty days after their arrival in the
harbour: that, in his own ship, of two hundred men, eighty-seven
were seized, and confined to their beds, in one night; that one
hundred and forty-five were buried there; and, that not more than
ten survived the expedition!

"In mentioning this illustrious character," adds Dr. Moseley, "to
whose skill and valour the British empire is so much indebted, I
cannot conceal, that I have great pleasure in recording, that it
was on our San Juan expedition he commenced his career of glory.

"His capacious mind gave, on this dangerous and dreadful service,
an early specimen of those splendid elements, which have since
decorated, with never-fading laurels, the English naval military
fame; with deeds unparalleled in history, with atchievements beyond
the hope of envy.

"When the unfortunate contentions alluded to had diffused their