Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/243

Rh occurred on the 14th of November; twelve days later the news was received at the capital, and on the 17th of December following the frigate sailed. Notwithstanding this prompt action, however, nothing was accomplished, the frigate returning to Acapulco about the middle of February without even having sighted the enemy.

The corsairs still continued to hover off the coast, and a general council was held in the capital, on the 8th of May, to concert further measures for their pursuit. Twelve days later it was ascertained that they had sailed for Peru, having released all their prisoners excepting three men, one of them a Franciscan friar. Nevertheless preparations were continued; troops were again sent from the capital, and a small fleet sailed about the middle of August from Acapulco to cruise along the coast. These expeditions continued until 1692, but without other apparent result than to cause the pirates, at least for the time being, to abandon the coast.

At this time there was not a single craft of any kind for the defence of the long coast line from Tehuantepec to Sinaloa. Before the end of August, 1692, two well equipped vessels, built in Guatemala by order of the viceroy, and intended for coast-guard service, were anchored in the port of Acapulco. During the remainder of Galve's rule, there is no evidence that the corsairs again appeared on the coast of the South Sea.

In consequence of the renewal of war with France, in 1689, the Spanish crown ordered the viceroy to take all possible means to strengthen the defenses of New Spain; and to make reprisals on the French, by confiscating their property, and banishing from the country all subjects of that nation except those engaged in the mechanic arts. In accordance with these