104 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 
