As the Buccaniers were encouraged and countenanced in Jamaica, the town of Port Royal became their chief place of resort. In this place, they found a ready market for their booty, while they had an opportunity of indulging themselves in the most riotous profusion, and the most licentious luxury. Port Royal was, at this period, the most populous, the richest, and the most debauched spot in the world. They generally arrived laden with wealth, and seldom sailed again until it was wholly spent. They were caressed by the merchants and planters as men of valour, as friends, and as benefactors. Indeed, they, by their profusion, tended not a little to increase the wealth of the colonists. In taverns, and houses of debauchery, they, in the space of a few days, squandered away sums, which might have made them independent, and even rich, during life. They used," (says an intelligent author), "to buy a pipe of wine, place it in the street, and oblige every one that passed, to drink; at other times, they would "scatter it about in large quantities, thinking it excellent diversion to wet the ladies clothes as they went along, and force "them to run from the showers of wine."

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But though many of these adventurers were justly stigmatised as pirates, those who belonged to Jamaica deserved not the appellation. Spain and England being at war, they were regularly furnished with letters of marque and of reprisal. They were remarkably bold, and became objects of the utmost terror to the Spaniards. Desperate and persevering, they were generally successful; rude and uncultured, they were frequently cruel. And though no good man will approve of unnecessary deeds of violence, yet it is almost impossible for human nature not secretly to exult at the losses of the Spaniards, and to view their disasters, as part of the just retribution of Heaven, for the murder of ten millions of defenceless and unoffending Indians.

Henry Morgan was the most celebrated, and the most successful of all the Buccaniers. He was the son of a poor farmer in Wales; but his active and aspiring mind, disdaining the dull routine of an obscure life, he sailed, in his youth, to the island of Barbadoes. From hence, after a servitude of four years, he hastened to join the Buccaniers in Jamaica. In his first voyage, his courage became conspicuous, and gained him the respect and affection of his companions; and so superior did his talents appear, that, in a short time, Mansveldt, an old Buccanier, who had a fleet of fifteen ships under his command, appointed Morgan his vice-admiral. They attacked Spanish ships of every description; no danger appalled, no superiority of numbers terrified them; whilst the Spaniards, finding their greatest efforts unavailing, became completely panic-struck, and seldom offered resistance. And when they could not meet with Spanish ships, they fearlessly landed on the territories belonging to Spain, ravaged the country, burnt the towns, plundered the inhabitants, and carried to Jamaica all the money, slaves, and valuable commodities, which they could procure. But Morgan, possessed of more enlarged views than his associates, instead of squandering away his property in riot and debauchery, husbanded his finances to such a degree, that he was soon enabled to purchase ships, and fit them for sea. Although booty was his chief object, as well as that of his companions, he did not confine himself to a partial system of petty warfare, but engaged in enterprises, which struck terror into the Spanish government, and which seemed to threaten the extinction of her dominion in the new world. Finding himself possessed of twelve stout ships, and at the head of seven hundred resolute warriors, Morgan determined to attack the Havannah, in the island of Cuba, at that time, the richest town in the Spanish transatlantic dominions. But

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prudential motives led him to prefer an attempt on Puerto del Principe, a fine inland town in the same island. He landed, for this purpose, in a bay, called, El Puerto de Santa Maria. His attacks were always made by surprise; but, on this occasion, a Spaniard, who had been detained a prisoner, finding means of escape, informed the inhabitants of the impending danger. The governor, or commandant of the place, immediately put the town in a posture of defence, armed both freemen and slaves, seized a pass through which the adventurers were expected to march, fixed great quantities of felled trees across the roads to obstruct their passage, placed several ambuscades in convenient places, and encamped with the rest of his forces on an extensive plain. Morgan was disappointed at finding the avenues impassable; but disdaining retreat, he immediately turned out of the common road, travelled through woods, and after great exertions, reached the spot where the Spaniards lay encamped. The Spanish commander immediately charged the assailants with great resolution; but the Buccaniers, well-disciplined, hardy, and desperate, were irresistible. After an engagement of four hours, in which the governor, and the greater part of the Spanish gentlemen were killed, the rest fled in every direction; while the people in the town still made a brave, though ineffectual, resistance. Morgan, having stormed it with success, and sent out parties for the purpose of plundering the surrounding country, collected an immense booty, with which, as usual, he repaired to Jamaica. His improvident companions were not slow in squandering their suddenly acquired wealth, and were soon ready and anxious to engage in some new enterprise.

Morgan now conducted them to the attack of Puerto Velo, or Porto Bello, a rich city on the Spanish main, situated fourteen leagues from the gulph of Darien, and defended by three

strong castles. Here after a long march, in a strange country, without guides, and destitute of artillery, they attempted an enterprise, which, by the greater number of prudent generals, would have been deemed an act of fool-hardy desperation. They summoned the garrison of the strongest fortress to surrender, and threatened them with severity in case of a refusal. The Spaniards bravely replied by a discharge of artillery, which destroyed a number of the assailants; but so cool was the courage of the latter, and so excellent their discipline, that they always shot numbers of the Spaniards as they approached to work their guns. After a brave defence, the castle was stormed, and all the Spaniards destroyed. They then coolly marched to the city, and notwithstanding an incessant discharge of artillery from another castle into which the governor had retired, commenced their favourite employment of plunder. But great numbers being destroyed by the governor's fire, they were necessitated again to commence the attack. Here also they were successful; and after dismounting and destroying the great guns of the castles, levelling several redoubts, and plundering the city, they retired with a booty of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in gold and silver, besides an immense quantity of several species of merchandise.

Their next attack was upon the town of Maracaibo, in which, after surmounting great hardships and danger, and destroying considerable numbers of the Spaniards, they acquired betwixt two and three hundred thousand dollars, besides an invaluable booty of jewels, merchandise, and slaves.

The name of Morgan was now mentioned with respect, not in Jamaica only, but even in England; and he was considered by the Spaniards as a formidable, and an irresistible enemy. Great as his enterprises had been, he now proposed to embark in a new adventure, surpassing all the former. No sooner had

he made known his designs, than immense numbers flocked to his standard, eagerly expecting that wealth and glory, which his prudence and courage never failed to procure. He now determined to attack Panama, one of the richest cities on the Spanish main, to which all the merchandise, gold, and silver of Chili and Peru are conveyed, and from which it was carried by the galleons to Europe.

Morgan set out on this expedition with twelve hundred men, on the 18th day of August 1670. The governor of Panama, however, aware of his approach, laid waste the country through which Morgan's troops were obliged to pass. They were consequently exposed to all the extremes of famine and fatigue, and for some days, had no other means of subsistence than the leaves of trees. They wandered in pathless woods, in danger of perishing for want of food; but Morgan at length reached a high mountain, from the summit of which he beheld the great South Sea. He now descended with his half-famished companions, into a rich valley, plentifully watered, and abounding in cattle. Having satisfied their hunger, Morgan ordered them instantly to march; and in a short time, they at length perceived the spires of Panama. Never doubting of success, the sight inspired them with a mad, tumultuous joy. They shouted, leaped, hallooed, tossed up their hats in the air, and gave all those signs of extreme satisfaction, which men, uncultured, generally display. All their trumpets sounded, and every drum was beat, as a symptom of their gladness, and a presage of their victory.

They immediately advanced to the city, and night approaching, pitched their camp in its neighbourhood, determining to commence their attack in the morning. A party of Spanish horse sallied out from the city, but displaying their cowardice, or their weakness, they did not venture within pistol-shot of