28 Naval War of 1812 



very candid testimony to the defence of the Essex 

 having been effective enough to at one time render 

 the result doubtful, saying: "Our first attack . . . 

 produced no visible effect. Our second . . . was 

 not more successful; and having lost the use 

 of our main-sail, jib, and main-stay, appearances 

 looked a little inauspicious." Throughout the war 

 no ship was so desperately defended as the Essex, 

 taking into account the frightful odds against which 

 she fought, which always enhances the merit of a 

 defence. The Lawrence, which suffered even more, 

 was backed by a fleet; the Frolic was overcome by 

 an equal foe; and the Reindeer fought at far less 

 of a disadvantage, and suffered less. None of the 

 frigates, British or American, were defended with 

 anything like the resolution she displayed. 



But it is perhaps permissible to inquire whether 



not include Porter's "27 slightly wounded," and that his "161 

 prisoners" include Porter's "25 who reached shore," and his 

 "25 who reached shore" comes under Porter's "31 missing." 

 This would make the accounts nearly tally. At any rate in 

 Porter's book are to be found the names of all his killed, 

 wounded, and missing; and their relatives received pensions 

 from the American Government, which, if the returns were 

 false, would certainly have been a most elaborate piece of 

 deception. It is far more likely that Hilyar was mistaken; 

 or he may have counted in the Essex Junior's crew, which 

 would entirely account for the discrepancies. In any event 

 it must be remembered that he makes the American killed 

 and wounded in (Porter, 124), and not 69, as James says. 

 The latter's statement is wilfully false, as he had seen Hil- 

 yar's letter. 



