1 04 INTRODUCTION. 



himself with the advantages to be fairly derived from the service he 

 had engaged in, he did his utmost to enlighten the countries he 

 protected, and to teach them the principles of rational freedom. 



I have now to relate his expedition to Acapulco, which will bring 

 the affairs of Chile and its squadron up to the date of my arrival at 

 Valparaiso, when the rest, to the beginning of 1823, will be given in 

 the course of the Journal. 



Although the squadron left Guayaquil on the 20th November, it 

 was the 3d of December before it sailed from the river. The 

 necessity for getting speedily to sea in pursuit of the enemy's frigates 

 had, of course, precluded more than a temporary repair of the vessels, 

 and I find a notice in the log-book of the O'Higgins, that her leak 

 made three inches of water per hour. On the 5th, the admiral con- 

 tinued on his way, however, coasting the land and examining every 

 - port and bay for the objects of his search. On the 19th, the ships 

 anchored in the bay of Fonseca to procure water, and to repair the 

 pumps of the O'Higgins, which were by this time worn out by 

 constant use. 



The water first discovered proving too brackish for use, the boats 

 were despatched in search of springs, and, on the 21st, they dis- 

 covered good water eight miles from the first anchorage ; on the 

 25th the ships removed thither, calling the place Christmas Bay. 

 They set about burning the woods to make a road to the water, and 

 got it both abundant and good. Meantime the O'Higgins had got 

 two new pumps prepared, but the water had risen to such a height 

 in the hold, that the people were baling at all the hatchways ; and 

 though by the 26th her pumps were refitted, the after-hold and 

 bread-room were obliged to be cleared, and the provisions were 

 stowed in the hammock nettings. During all this time of difficulty 

 and distress, the admiral was first in all exertions to relieve the ship 

 and people, and the last in every thing like self-accommodation. 

 On one occasion, when every body had given up all for lost, and the 

 carpenter at length, with tears, declared he could do no more, Lord 

 Cochrane took his place, laboured himself till the pumps were brought 



