The squadron allotted to this service consisted of five men-of-war, a sloop of war and two victualling ships. They were the _Centurion_ of sixty guns, four hundred men, George Anson, Esq., commander; the _Gloucester_ of fifty guns, three hundred men, Richard Norris, commander; the _Severn_ of fifty guns, three hundred men, the Honourable Edward Legg, commander; the _Pearl_ of forty guns, two hundred and fifty men, Matthew Mitchel, commander; the _Wager_ of twenty-eight guns, one hundred and sixty men, Dandy Kidd, commander; and the _Tryal_ sloop of eight guns, one hundred men, the Honourable John Murray, commander; the two victuallers were pinks, the largest of about four hundred, and the other of about two hundred tons burthen. These were to attend us till the provisions we had taken on board were so far consumed as to make room for the additional quantity they carried with them, which, when we had taken into our ships, they were to be discharged. Besides the complement of men borne by the above-mentioned ships as their crews, there were embarked on board the squadron about four hundred and seventy invalids and marines, under the denomination of land forces (as has been particularly mentioned in the preceding chapter) which were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Cracherode. With this squadron, together with the _St. Albans_ and the _Lark_, and the trade {23} under their convoy, Mr. Anson, after weighing from St. Helen's, tided it down the Channel for the first forty-eight hours; and, on the 20th, in the morning, we discovered off the Ram Head the _Dragon_, _Winchester_, _South Sea Castle_, and _Rye_, with a number of merchantmen under their convoy. These we joined about noon the same day, our commodore having orders to see them (together with the _St. Albans_ and _Lark_) as far into the sea as their course and ours lay together. When we came in sight of this last mentioned fleet, Mr. Anson first hoisted his broad pennant, and was saluted by all the men-of-war in company.