The scheme, proposed by one William Smith, Esq., was relished by the whole company, and the motion carried by acclamation. When the applause had subsided there rose Mr. Torrington, who informed the company present that he happened to possess at that moment a ship most admirably adapted for the purpose: being the _Flamborough_, formerly a man-of-war, but then in the Jamaica trade, and known as the _Flying Flamborough_ on account of her great speed; Mr. Torrington, in his naturally enthusiastic eulogy of the ship he wished to sell, declaring that, with a fair wind and crowded canvas, she had frequently run fourteen knots--which was certainly very unusual with the short, bluff-bowed vessels of that period. It was immediately agreed to purchase her, and she was appropriately renamed the _Antigallican_. She was a formidable vessel, of 440 tons, mounting 28 guns and 16 swivels, with a crew of 208 men, commanded by William Foster--a man apparently of humble birth, for he is said to have been a "cockswain" on board H.M.S. _Defiance_, and to have attracted notice by his brave conduct during the action between Anson and De la Jonquière on May 3rd, 1747.[9] On July 17th, 1756, the _Antigallican_ was ready for sea, and the owners brought down their wives and daughters and numerous friends, who were handsomely entertained on board; she had on board, we are told, "six months' provision, all of the product of Middlesex and Kent, generally supplied from the estates of the proprietors. There was not the least thing in or about her but what was entirely English"--which, of course, was only right and consistent with the principles of the Society. Sailing on September 17th, she fell in, about a month later, with an armed French vessel, about 300 miles west of Lisbon. This ship fell an easy prey, surrendering after delivering one broadside and receiving a raking fire from the Englishman. She had on board, we are told, four English prisoners, "part of the crew taken on board the _Warwick_ man-of-war." This ship had been captured by a French squadron on March 11th preceding. Why these four men were on board this armed merchantman does not appear, but the French captain, who was a cheerful soul, not readily cast down by adversity, had always treated them well, and, when the _Antigallican_ hove in sight, served out a complete outfit of clothes to them. They remained on deck at work until the first shot was fired, when they were put under hatches, and the captain himself was the first to inform them of their release. Smiling upon them through the open hatchway, he said: "Come out, gentlemen; _it be vel wit you, but ill wit me!_" This vessel was the _Maria Theresa_, 14 guns and 30 men. She was valued, with her cargo, at £23,000: so the _Antigallican_ made a promising commencement of her cruise. The prize was sent to Portsmouth. Another, valued at £15,000, was taken into Madeira, in company with the privateer.