The Governor being sick, and understanding they had a Surgeon on Board, sent to desire him to come and bleed him: Accordingly the Doctor, the Quarter-Master, and the Linguist, waited on him the next Morning, and informed him, that they had Flour and other Provisions to dispose of, and gave him an Invitation on Board, but being ill, he declined it; whereupon seven of the Sloop’s men marched up, surpriz’d and took the Fort; and after dismounting the Cannon, they went back to meet their Comrades that were expected on Shore, and then making up 19 in Number, they boldly march’d to the Town.

Before they came up the Spaniards were alarmed and got together in Arms, and fir’d on them; but they still advancing the Spaniards retreated, and they entered the Town, and plundered it of everything that was valuable, which amounted to £100 a Man. They lost only one Man in the Engagement, and killed three and wounded one of the Spaniards in taking the Fort. This was as bold an Attempt as was ever heard of.

[London] Weekly Miscellany, April 12, 1740.

The Order in which they proceeded, was as follows. First walked the Sword Bearer, carrying a drawn Sword; then four Stewards, with white Maces; followed by the Treasurer and Secretary, who bore each a crimson Damask Cushion, on which lay a gilt Bible, and the Book of Constitutions; after these the Grand Warden, and Wardens: Then came the Grand Master himself, bearing a Trunchion, and other Badges of Office, followed by the Rest of the Brother hood, according to their respective Ranks, Masters, Fellow-Crafts, and Prentices, to about the Number of Fifty; all cloathed with their Jewels, Aprons, white Gloves, and Stockings.

The whole Ceremony was concluded with the utmost Decorum, under a Discharge of Guns from some Vessels in the Harbour, and made a genteel Appearance. We hear, they afterwards confer’d a generous Donation of Fifteen Pounds from the Public Stock of the Society, to be expended in Cloathing the poor Children, belonging to our Charity School; and made a handsome private Contribution for the Relief of indigent Prisoners.

In the Evening, by the particular Request of the Brethern, a Comedy called, The Conscious Lovers, was presented at the Theatre in Nassau Street, to a very crouded Audience. Several Pieces of vocal Musick, in Praise of the Fraternity, was performed, between the Acts. An Epilogue, suitable to the Occasion, was pronounced by Mrs. Hallam, with all the Graces of Gesture, and Propriety of Elocution; and met with a universal and loud Applause.

Quare. Whether the Performance of publick and private Acts of Beneficence, such as feeding the Hungry, and cloathing the Naked, be most correspondent to the Genius of Christianity; or to the Institutions of the Prince of Darkness?”

New York Mercury, 31 December 1753.