54 



Porter's Voyage 



stx>res, such as cordage, canvas, paints, tar, &c. &c., more than 

 we required ; also seamen's clothing in considerable quantities, 

 and of a superior quality, for our people. As these vessels had 

 been only a few days from James' Island, we found on board 

 them eight hundred tortoises of a very large size, and sufficient 

 to furnish all the ships with fresh provisions for one month. 



Our fleet now consisted of six sail of vessels, without including 

 the Georgiana. On board of the last captured vessels I put a 

 sufficient number of men to fight their guns, giving lieutenant 

 M'Knight charge of the Atlantic, and, for want of sea officers, 

 I put Lieutenant Gamble of the marines in charge of the Green- 

 wich. I had much confidence in the discretion of this gentleman ; 

 and, to make up for his want of nautical knowledge, I put two 

 expert seamen with him as mates, one of whom was a good 

 navigator. 



Volunteers continued to offer from the captured vessels, and 

 my whole effective force in those seas now consisted of 

 The Essex, mounting 46 guns, and 245 men. 



Georgiana, 16 do. 42 do. 



Atlantic, 6 do. 12 do. 



Greenwich, 10 do. 14 do. 



Montezuma, 2 do. 10 do. 



Pohcy, 10 do. 



Making in all 80 guns, 333 men ; 



together with one midshipman and six men on board the Barclay. 

 My prisoners amounted in number to eighty ; but as I had di- 

 vided them among the different ships, allowing them full allow- 

 ance of provisions on condition of their giving their assistance in 

 working, we found them as useful as our own men in navigating 

 the prizes. Thus our whole number, including the prisoners, 

 amounted to four hundred and twenty, and all in good health, 

 with the exception of some of the latter, who were slightly affect- 

 ed with the scurvy. 



It seems somewhat extraordinary, that British seamen should 

 carry with them a propensity to desert even into merchant vessels, 

 sailing under the flag of their nation, and under circumstances so 

 terrifying. But yet I am informed that their desertion while at 

 Charles' Island has been very common, even when there was no 

 prospect whatever of obtaining water but from the bowels of the 

 tortoises. This can only be attributed to that tyranny so pre- 

 valent on board their ships of war, which has crept into their 

 merchant vessels, and is there aped by their commanders. Now 

 mark the difference. While the Essex lay at Charles"' Island, one 

 fourth of her crew was every day on shore, and all the prisoners 

 who chose to go ; I even lent the latter boats, whenever they 



