On the Ocean 205 



were enlisted now being up, they, for the most part, 

 left, in consequence of some trouble about the prize- 

 money. Captain Evans being- in ill health, Captain 

 James Lawrence was appointed to command her. 

 He reached Boston about the middle of May and 

 at once set about enlisting a new crew, and tried, 

 with but partial success, to arrange matters with the 

 old sailors, who were now almost in open mutiny. 

 When the year 1812 had come to an end, the 

 Essex, 32, was in the South Atlantic, and Captain 

 Porter shortly afterward ran into St. Catherines to 

 water. Being at a loss where to find his consorts, 

 he now decided to adopt the exceedingly bold meas 

 ure of doubling Cape Horn and striking at the Brit 

 ish whalers in the Pacific. This was practically go 

 ing into the enemy's waters, the Portuguese and 

 Spanish countries being entirely under the influ 

 ence of Britain, while there were no stations where 

 Porter could revictual or repair in safety. How 

 ever, the Essex started, doubled the Horn, and on 

 March I3th anchored in the harbor of Valparaiso. 

 Her adventurous cruise in the Pacific was the most 

 striking feature of the war ; but as it has been most 

 minutely described by Commodore Porter himself, 

 by his son, Admiral Porter, by Admiral Farragut, 

 and by Cooper, I shall barely touch upon it. 



6 He was still on the Hornet at New York on May roth, as 

 we knew from a letter of Biddle's, written on that date (in 

 letters of "Masters-Commandant," 1813, No. 58), and so 

 could hardly have been with the Chesapeake two weeks be 

 fore he put out ; and had to get his crew together and train 

 them during that time. 



