62 Porter's Voyage 



great distance astern of us. The in-shore ship tacked to wind- 

 ward of us, and stood for them, with a view of cutting them off; 

 but my anxiety was considerably reheved, on seeing the Green- 

 wich heave to for the Georgiana to come up, as I was confident 

 it was for the purpose of getting her crew out, as she soon after 

 stood boldly down for the stranger. We were not long in cap- 

 turing the vessel we were in chase of, which proved to be the 

 English ship Charlton, of ten guns, the captain of which in- 

 formed me, that the ship now to windward was the Seringa- 

 patam, of fourteen guns and forty men, commanded by 

 William Stavers, and that the other was the New Zealander of 

 eight guns. 



Il Notv/itstanding the great interest I felt for the critical situation 

 of my prizes, as well as that which every officer must feel when 

 in pur:>uit of an enemy, I could not help remarking the opera- 

 tions of nature on the south side of Narborough and on the 

 southern part of Albemarle. Narborough appeared to have 

 undergone great changes since our last visit, by the violent irrup- 

 tions of its volcanoes ; and at this time there were no less than 

 four craters smoking on that island, and one on the south part of 

 Albemarle. I should have before mentioned, that a few hours 

 after leaving Charles' Island, a volcano burst out with great fury 

 from its centre, which would naturally lead to the belief of a sub- 

 marine communication between them. 



Perceiving that the New Zealander had hove about to stand 

 towards us, I was impressed with a belief that they had got over 

 their alarm ; but from the manoeuvres of the other ship, I was 

 persuaded that she supposed us an enemy, and therefore deter- 

 mined to use every effort to take her first. The Greenwich con- 

 tinued to run down for her, while the Georgiana ran for the 

 Essex. I soon threw a crew on board the Charlton, and gave 

 chase. Several broadsides were exchanged between the Green- 

 wich and the Seringapatam, when the latter hauled down her 

 colours, but endeavoured to make her escape in a crippled state, 

 having her sails and rigging much cut. The Greenwich kept 

 up the pursuit close on her quarter ; the Essex was coming up 

 with her fast ; when, in the dusk of the evening, seeing no possi- 

 bility of escape, the enemy bore up for the Essex, and surren- 

 dered his ship. I immediately took the captain and officers on 

 board, left the Greenwich to take care of her, and pursued the 

 other ship, which I captured in about an hour afterwards. 



It proved to be the Seringapatam, which had taken the letters, 

 wood, kegs, &c. from Charles' Island. The capture of this ship 

 gave me more pleasure than that of any other which fell into my 

 hands; for, besides being the finest Britsh ship in those seas, 

 licr commander had the character of being a man of great enter- 



