74 



THE NUMA.'^ 



March 10.— On the passage to Lima in a 

 merchantman. 



We had two chances of being taken to Lima 

 in ships of war^ but both have failed. The first 

 was a Chilenian brig, the Achilles, commanded 

 by Captain Simpson, an Englishman in that 

 service, who offered us a passage ; but the go- 

 vernment afterwards ordered this vessel to go 

 with provisions to Juan Fernandez and then 

 to Concepcion, to relieve, at both these places, 

 the unfortunate inhabitants, whose houses and 

 property have been destroyed by the late earth- 

 quake. This plan having failed, we were de- 

 sirous of a passage in a schooner of war of the 

 United States, but her cabins were so small 

 that her captain could not conveniently take us 

 with him, otherwise, I believe, he was not un- 

 willing to accommodate us. At last we heard 

 of this English vessel, called the Numa,^^ 



