Anson left Madeira on November 3rd, 1740, and shortly afterwards his crews fell sick, through lack of air, the ships being too deep for the lower ports to be opened. Anson had several ventilating holes cut. Then fever came, carrying off many. Just before Christmas he arrived at St. Catherine’s, Brazil, but his hopes of recruiting his men’s health were abortive. His own flagship, the _Centurion_, lost twenty-eight men dead and had ninety-six others on the sick list. On January 18th, 1741, Anson sailed for the Horn. A gale scattered his squadron, one ship being separated for a month; eventually, however, all rejoined. There followed three months’ tempests rounding the Horn. Scurvy appeared, and the ships got separated again. Finally, on June 9th, the _Centurion_ alone reached Juan Fernandez, short of water and only about ten men fit for duty in a watch. A few days later the _Tryal_ appeared at the island, her captain, lieutenant and three men being all who were available for service. A third ship, the _Gloucester_, appeared on June 21st, but so short-handed was she that, though assistance was sent her, it took her an entire fortnight to make harbour! On August 16th, the victualler ship, _Anna Pink_, arrived, all her crew in good condition, she having put into some harbour en route. Of the other three ships, two (the _Severn_ and _Pearl_), failed to round the Horn and returned to Brazil; the third, the _Wager_, was wrecked. In September, a sail was sighted. The _Centurion_ put to sea and found her to be a Spanish merchant ship. From the prisoners it was learned that a Spanish squadron from Chili had been on the look out for Anson, that a ship had been lying off Juan Fernandez till just before his arrival, but that assuming him lost they had now all gone back to Valparaiso. Thereafter several prizes were taken, one being fitted out to replace the _Tryal_, which was abandoned. The _Anna Pink_ had also had to be abandoned as useless.