the following day, mines were sprung, demolishing the lower bastion and some of the upper works. Within the castle, the inner apartments were set on fire. Knowles departed from the burning castle on March 30 74
to rejoin Vernon at Jamaica.
Although no major reconstruction was undertaken at San Lorenzo until after the war, the colonists made some attempts to re-fortify the banks of the Chagres. In 1741 Portobele and San Lorenzo, described as
"wrecked and defenseless," were ordered repaired with enough fortifications and batteries to impede enemy intrusions. Furthermore, 118 reinforcements were to be sent to the Chagres. These reached the castle 75
during the following year. The re-fortification had still not taken place by April of 1742, however, for a Captain Dennis of Vernon's fleet entered the river without opposition at that time. Later the same year,
sufficient defenses had been made to repulse an attack of three British frigates.6
But major work on San Lorenzo was delayed until 1750 or 1751. Charles III, one of the few Spanish monarchs to make a vigorous attempt
Naval Chronicle ., I, 95-96o see also Jefferys, cit.,
30; Clowes, e. cit., II, 62. To commemorate Vernon's victory at the mouth of the Chagres, medallions were struck in London with an inscription telling of his capture of San Lorenzo and Portobelo. Cf. Castillero, RCastillo de San Lorenzo," 514. Two poems written in honor of Vernon's victories in the Caribbean also mentioned his capture of San Lorenzo. A Letter to the Secretary of a Certain Board o Together with Verses adress'd to Admiral V (LOndon 17 4) 13-14* 17-18.
75 Zaragesa, _.* cit., 288, 306.
Edward Vernon, Original P Relating to the Expedition to
Panama (London 1744), 96 eelso Espasa p gjs, aB. cit., XVI, 13910