46 



Potter's Voyage 



hazy weather is prevalent here, and, as there was every indication 

 of it, I was fearful that, in the event of a breeze, one or the other 

 of them might make its escape from us, as I had understood that 

 they were reputed fast sailers. I therefore thought it adviseable 

 to attempt them in our boats, and with this view had them pre- 

 pared for the purpose, and in a few minutes they departed in 

 two divisions. Lieut. Downes, in the whale boat, commanded 

 the first division, consisting of the third cutter, Lieutenant 

 M'Knight, jollyboat, sailing-master Cowell, and second cutter, 

 Midshipman Isaacs ; and Lieutenant Wilmer, in the pinnace, com- 

 manding the second division, consisting of the 1st cutter, Lieu- 

 tenant Wilson, and gig, lieutenant Gamble of the marines. The 

 heavy rowing boats occasioned considerable delay to the whole, as 

 I had given the most positive orders that the boats should be 

 brought into action all together, and that no officer should take 

 advantage of the fleetness of his boat to proceed a-head of the 

 rest, believing that some of them, from their extreme anxiety to 

 join with the enemy, might be so imprudent as to do so. At two 

 o'clock, the boats were about a mile from the vessels, (which were 

 about a quarter of a mile apart,) when they hoisted English 

 colours and fired several guns. The boats now formed in one 

 division, and pulled for tlie largest ship, which, as they approach- 

 ed, kept her guns trained on them. The signal was made for 

 boarding ; and, when lieutenant Downes arrived within a few 

 yards of her gangway, and directed them to surrender, the colours 

 were hauled down. They now proceeded for the other vessel, 

 after leaving an officer and some men on board, and as soon as 

 she was hailed, she followed the example of the first by striking 

 her colours. Shortly afterwards a breeze sprung up, the prizes 

 bore down for us, and we welcomed the safe return of our ship- 

 mates with three hearty cheers. The captured vessels proved to 

 be as I had expected, the Georgiana, Captain Pitts, of two hun- 

 dred and eighty tons, and the Policy of two hundred and seventy- 

 five tons ; and these three vessels, which we had taken with so 

 little trouble, were estimated to be worth in England upwards of 

 half a million of dollars. 



The possession of these vessels, besides the great satisfaction it 

 produced, was attended by another advantage of no less import- 

 ance, as it relieved all our wants except one, to wit, the want of 

 water. From them we obtained an abundant supply of cordage, 

 canvas, paints, tar, and every other article necessary for the ship, 

 of all of which she stood in great need, as her slender stock brought 

 from America had now become worn out and useless. Besides 

 the articles necessary for the ship, we became supplied with a 

 stock of provisions, as those vessels when they sailed from Eng- 

 land were provided with provisions and stores for upwards of 

 three years, and had not yet consumed half their stof:k. They 



