134 



A DIARY OF THE 



muskets as they left the scene of our long and 

 cheerless encampment. 



It can fall to the lot of few to experience the 

 varied sensations occasioned by our sudden 

 transition to a man-of-war, and our restoration 

 to those comforts to which we had so long been 

 strangers ; allied, it is to be hoped, with thankful 

 hearts to the Almighty for the abundant mercies 

 vouchsafed towards us. We shall long cherish 

 recollections of the very kind attentions paid by 

 the officers of the Blonde to our wants and 

 comforts. We were under weigh soon after dusk 

 for Concep9ion. 



July 7 When about to enter the port of 



Concep9ion, we observed a schooner to leeward, 

 under jury-masts : on going to her relief she 

 proved to be the Carmen, which the Commodore 

 had despatched from this port to our assistance. 

 In her way to the Leubu, that river being in- 

 correctly laid down in the chart, she had run 

 past it ; and having been dismasted in a heavy 

 squall, and drifted into the current which had 

 proved fatal to the Challenger, was for some 

 time in danger of sharing her fate on the Isle of 

 Mocha. The Blonde towed her into Talcuhuana 

 Bay, where and at Concep9ion we were eye- 



