APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



179 



much-loved though distant King 

 aiid country. 



The defence of the Essex, taking 

 into consideration our superiority 

 of force, the very discouraging 

 circumstance of her having lost her 

 maintop mast, and being twice on 

 fire, did honour to her brave de- 

 fenders, and most fully evinced 

 the courage of Captain Porter, 

 and those under his command. 

 Her colours were not struck until 

 the loss in killed and wounded 

 was so aAvfully great, her shattered 

 condition so seriously bad, as to 

 render further resistance una- 

 vailing. 



I was much hurt on hearing 

 that her men had been encou- 

 raged, when the result of the ac- 

 tion was evidently decided, some 

 to take to their boats, and others 

 to swim on shore : many were 

 drowned in the attempt ; 16 were 

 saved by the exertions of my 

 people, and others, I believe be- 

 tween 30 and 40, effected their 

 landing, I informed Capt. Porter, 

 that I considered the latter, in 

 point of honour, as my prisoners ; 

 he said the encouragement was 

 given when the ship was in danger 

 from fire, and I have not pressed 

 the point. The Essex is com- 

 pletely stored and provisioned for 

 at least six months, and although 

 much injured in her upper works, 

 masts, and rigging, is not in such 

 a state as to give the slightest 

 cause of alarm, respecting her 

 being able to perform a voyage to 

 Europe with perfect safety. Our 

 main and mizen masts and main- 

 yard are rather seriously wounded : 

 these, with a few shot holes be- 

 tween wind and water, which we 

 can get at without lightening, and 

 a loss of canvas and cordage, 

 which we can partly replace from 



our well-stored prize, are tlie ex- 

 tent of the injuries his Majesty's 

 ship has sustained. 



I feel it a pleasant duty to re- 

 commend to their Lordships' notice, 

 my now Senior Lieutenant, Pear- 

 son, and Messrs. Allan, Gardner, 

 Porter, and Daw, midshipmen ; I 

 should do very great injustice 

 to Mr, Geo. O'Brien, the Mate of 

 the Emily merchantman, who 

 joined a boat's crew of mine in the 

 harbour, and pushed for the ship 

 the moment he saw her likely to 

 come to action, were I to omit 

 recommending liim to their Lord- 

 ships ; his conduct, with that of 

 Mr. N. Murphy, Master of the 

 English brig Good Friends, were 

 such as to entitle them both to my 

 lasting regard, and prove that 

 they were ever ready to hazard 

 their lives in their country's ho- 

 nourable cause. They came on 

 board when the attempt was at- 

 tended with great risk, and both 

 their boats were swamped, I have 

 before informed their Lordships, 

 that Mr, O'Brien was once a 

 Lieutenant in his Majesty's service 

 (may now add, that youthful in- 

 discretions appear to have given 

 place to great correctness of con- 

 duct), and as he has proved his 

 laudable zeal for its honour, I 

 think, if restored, he would be 

 found one of its greatest orna- 

 ments. I enclose returns of killed 

 and wounded : and if conceived 

 to have trespassed on their Lord- 

 ships' time by this very long letter, 

 hope it will be kindly ascribed to 

 the right cause — an earnest wish 

 that merit may meet its due re- 

 ward. 



I have the honour to be, &c. 



James Hillyar. 



P. S. There has not been found a 



N2 



