The Virginia Gazette

From the LONDON MAGAZINE, for April, 1745.

A Gentleman lately arrived from the Southern Parts of the Spanish America, from whence he had the good Fortune to make his Escape, has brought an Account of an uncommon Instance of Generosity shewn by a Spanish Officer to some English Officers now Prisoners at Chili; and the following Letter is a literal Translation from the Original in Spanish, which this Gentleman received just before his Escape from Cordova.

SIR,

OUR English Prisoners arrived at this Place about a Month ago, viz. Capt. David Cheap, Thomas Hamilton, Lieutenant of Marines, John Byron, and Alexander Campbell, Midshipmen, all belonging to the Ship Wager, of Admiral Anson's Squadron, which was lost on this Side of Cape Horn, near two Years since. After they had travelled 14 Months through the Country of the wild Indians, where they underwent innumerable Hardships and Dangers, without any Subsistence but what their Fire-Arms supplied them with (which consisted chiefly of an amphibious Creature call'd a Seal) they had the good Fortune to meet with some of the Natives of Chili, who conducted them thither, where being made Prisoners by the Spaniards, they were soon after carried in a Man of War, of Admiral Pizarro's Squadron, to Valparaiso, the chief Port of this Kingdom, and conveyed here by Order of the President, who gave them a kind Reception, allowing them 18 Ryals a Day for their whole Maintenance, and the Liberty of the City upon their Parole, with a general Invitation to his Table. But this Allowance not being Sufficient to provide them with new Cloaths, and they being asham'd to appear with those they had on, which hardly covered their Nakedness, being the same they had wore ever since the Ship was lost, they confined themselves at home, and passed several Days in this Manner without any Person offering to succour them. As soon as I knew of their unhappy Condition, I went to their House, and offer'd them as far as the Sum of 2000 Dollars; but these Gentlemen, notwithstanding my pressing Instances, would not receive more than 600, and even that upon no other Condition than my accepting their Draught for this Sum upon the English Consul at Lisbon, tho' I do assure you, that my View was purely to relieve them in their Distres, without any Thought or Intention of ever being repaid. I hope this may convince you, that tho' you have suffer'd among my Countrymen, we are not all such implacable Enemies to the English; for I must tell you, I have been chiefly induced to serve these Gentlemen because they are of your Nation, which I hope you will look upon as a further Proof of my Friendship to you.

I am, Sir,

Your most faithful Friend and Servant,

Manuel de Guiror.

This Gentleman is of a considerable Family in Navarre, in Old Spain, a Knight of Malta, and first Lieutenant of Admiral Pizarro, in whose Company he went by Land from Buenos Ayres to Chili, and arrived there a short Time before the said Prisoners.