so 



$2,000,000. In 1813. Nov. 19, he took possession of Sir 

 Henrj Martin's Island, in the South Seas, named it Madison's 

 Island, built a village of six houses, a bakery, a ropewalk, &c., 

 and erected a fort of six guns. 



The English government soon sent vessels in search of the 

 Essex, and March 28, 1814, she "was attacked in the neutral 

 port of Valparaiso, -while disabled, by a greatly superior force, 

 consisting of the British ship Phoebe oi 5-3 guns and 320 men, 

 and the Cherub, of 28 guns and 180 men, — the Essex having 

 but 46 guns and 255 men. After a bloody and desperate light 

 of two hours and a quarter, during vrhich the Essex was de- 

 fended with extraordinary courage, Capt. Porter was compelled 

 to strike his flag and surrender to the enemy whom he had so 

 much annoyed. But the defeat was virtually a triumph, so 

 gallantly was the Essex defended against a greatly superior 

 force, and under peculiar disadvantages. 



During this final cruise of the Essex, as an American ves- 

 sel, her captures were as follows : 



1812. 

 Dec. 12. 



" 29. 



1813. 

 Mar. 25. 



" 29. 

 Apr. 29. 



" 29, 



" 29. 

 May 28.' 



After the capture of the Essex, she remained in the English 

 navy until the year 1837, when she was sold at auction with 

 other condemned vessels then withdrawn from the service. Of 

 her subsequent history we are not informed. It would be in- 

 teresting to know what was her ultimate fate, but we have no 

 means of ascertaining this point. 



We have seen the Essex built by the patriotism of our 

 townsmen as an aid to the national navy, in its earliest infan- 

 cy, and have noticed that she was famous in several respects : — 

 that she was the fastest sailer in the Navy for several years ; 

 the first national vessel to double the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 Cape Horn ; that she achieved the first naval victory in the 

 "war, and took the largest number of prizes of any vessel. 

 These things certainly justify a considerable degree of local 

 pride in her history. 



David Roberts made some interesting and complimentary 

 remarks, previous to his offering the following Vote: — " that 





1813. 







Brig Nockton. 



May 28. 



W. 



Ship Greenwich, 



Sch'r Elizabeth. 



" 28, 



W. 



" Catharine., 





" 28. 



W. 



" Eose. 



" Neregda. 



" 28. 



W. 



" Hector, 



W, Ship Barclay. 



July 13. 



W. 



" Cherlton, 



W", " Montezuma. 



" 13. 



W. 



" Seringapatam, 



W. " Georgiana. 



" 13. 



W. 



" New Zealander, 



W, " Policy. 



Sept. 13. 



W. 



" Sir Andrew 



W. " Atlantic. 







Hammond, 



