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made this statement, had it not been that this was the sole charge out 
of eleven, spread out into thirty-six specifications, on which a court of 
thirteen members, after an investigation of three weeks, could find I 
had transgressed the laws of the navy in the smallest degree. In 
justification of my course on this occasion, I could not but believe 
that the following clause of my instructions from the Hon. J. K. 
Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, ought to have sufficed: "In the 
prosecution of these long and devious voyages, you will necessarily 
be placed in situations which cannot be anticipated, and in which 
sometimes your own judgment and discretion, and at others necessity, 
must be your guide." Under this I acted. I am fully satisfied that 
in this case circumstances did occur, which in the language of my 
instructions did make "necessity my guide," and I fully believe that 
in so doing I saved the results of the Expedition, the honour of the 
navy, and the glory of the country. 
On the 30th of June the squadron went over to Callao. 
The Bay of Callao is too well known to require much to be said of 
it. The climate, combined with the prevailing winds, make it a fine 
harbour. The island of San Lorenzo protects it on the west from the 
swell of the ocean, but its northern side is entirely exposed ; there is 
no danger to be apprehended from that quarter. A few miles to the 
north the influence of San Lorenzo ceases ; the surf there breaks very 
heavily upon the beach, and prevents any landing. 
The gradual manner in which the extensive plain rises from 
Callao towards Lima, seems to give a very erroneous idea of the 
situation of the city. From the bay it is seen quite distinctly, about 
six miles distant, and does not appear to be elevated ; yet I measured 
the height of Mr. Bartlett's house above the level of the sea by 
sympiesometer, and found it four hundred and twenty feet. The 
rise would be scarcely perceptible to a stranger passing over the 
road, or one who had not a practised eye. 
The tide at Callao is small, generally of three and four feet rise. 
The temperature of the water during our stay was 60° ; of the air 
from 57° to 63°. 
Since my visit to Callao in 1821, it had much altered and for the 
better, notwithstanding the vicissitudes it has gone through since that 
time. A fine mole has been erected, surrounded by an iron railing. 
On it is a guard-house, with soldiers lounging about, and some two or 
three on guard. 
The mole affords every convenience for landing from small vessels 
