178 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



Admiralty, that a litile past three 

 o'clock on the afteniooii of the 

 28th instant, after nearly five 

 months anxious search, and six 

 weeks still more anxious look- 

 out for tlie L'ssex and her com- 

 panion, to quit the port of Val- 

 paraiso, we saw the former under 

 Weigh, and immediately, accom- 

 panied by the Cherub, made sail 

 to close with her : on rounding 

 the outer point of the bay, and 

 hauling her wind for the purpose 

 of endeavouring to weather us, 

 and escape, she lost her main top- 

 iTiast, and afterwards not succeed- 

 ing in an effort to regain the 

 limits of the port, bore uj), and 

 anchored so near the shore (a tew 

 miles to the leeward of it), as to 

 preclude the possibility of passing 

 a-head of her without risk to his 

 Majesty's ships. As we drew near, 

 ray intention oF going close under 

 her stern was frustrated by the 

 ship breaking off, and from the 

 wind blowing extremely fresh; 

 our first fire, commencing a little 

 past four, and continuing about ten 

 minutes, produced no visible ef- 

 fect : our second, a few random 

 shot only, from having increased 

 our distance by wearing, was not 

 apparently more successful, and 

 having lost the use of our main- 

 sail, jib, and main-stay, appear- 

 ances were a- little inauspicious. 

 On standing again towards her, 

 1 signified my intention of anchor- 

 ing, for wiiich we were not ready 

 before, with springs, to Captain 

 Tucker, directing him to keep 

 under weigh, and take a conve- 

 nient station for annoying our 

 opponent. On closing the Essex, 

 at 35 minutes past five, tlie firing 

 recommenced, and btfore [ gained 

 my intended position, her cable 



was cut, and a serious conflict 

 ensued ; tlie guns of his Majesty's 

 ship gradually becoming more de- 

 structive, and her crew, if possible, 

 more animated, which lasted until 

 20 minutes past six ; when it 

 pleased the Almighty Disposer of 

 Events to bless the efforts of my 

 gallant companions, and my per- 

 sonal very humble one, with vic- 

 tory. My friend. Captain Tucker, 

 an officer worthy of their Lord- 

 ships' best attentions, was severely 

 wounded at the commencement of 

 the action, but remained on deck 

 until it terminated, using every 

 exertion against the baffling winsls 

 and occasional calms which fol- 

 lowed the heavy firing, to close 

 near the enemy ; he informs me 

 that his officers and crew, of 

 whose loyalty, zeal, and discipline, 

 1 entertain the highest opinion, 

 conducted themselves to his satis- 

 faction, 



I have to lament the death of 

 four of my brave companions, and 

 one of his ; with real sorrow I 

 add, that my first Lieutenant, In- 

 gram, is among the number ; he 

 fell early, and is a great loss to his 

 Majesty's service; the many manly 

 tears which I observed this morn- 

 ing, while performing the last 

 mournful duty at his funeral on 

 shore, more fully evinced the re- 

 spect and affection of his aflBicted 

 companions, than any eulogium 

 my pen is equal to. Our lists of 

 wounded are small, and there is 

 only one for whom I am under 

 anxiety. The conduct of my offi- 

 cers and crew, without any indi- 

 vidual exception that has come to 

 my knowledge, before, during, 

 and after the battle, was such as 

 become good and loyal subjects, 

 zealous for the honour of their 



