in the Padjic Ocean. 21 



their sails bent^ and in readiness for sea, were lying tn the port. 

 As those vessels were beyond doubt, bound to the northward, 

 and in all probability to Lima, I concluded on keeping the sea a 

 few days longer, to give them time to get out, in order that intel- 

 ligence might not be given by them of an American frigate being 

 in this part of the world. There was also in the port an Ameri- 

 can brig deeply laden, pierced for eighteen guns, lying close in 

 shore, with her yards and topmasts struck, her boarding-nettings 

 triced up, and in appearance prepared for defence. A large and 

 clumsy-looking English brig was also lying there with her sails 

 unbent, her crevf employed in tarring down her rigging. 



Before I had got to an anchor, however, the captain of the 

 port, accompanied by another officer, came on board in the 

 governor'^s barge, v/ith an offer of every civilit}^, assistance, and 

 accommodation that Valparaiso could afford. To my astonish- 

 ment I was informed that they had shaken off their allegiance to 

 Spain ; that the ports of Chili were open to all nations ; that 

 they looked up to the United States of America for example and 

 protection ; that our arrival would be considered the most joyful 

 event, as their commerce had been much harassed by corsairs from 

 Peru, sent out by the vice-roy of that province, to capture and 

 send in for adjudication all American vessels destined for Chili ; 

 and that five of them had disappeared from before the port only 

 a few days before my arrival, after having captured several Ame- 

 rican whalers, and sent them for Lima. This unexpected 

 state of affairs, as may naturally be supposed, (considering our 

 existing wants,) was calculated to afford me the utmost pleasure, 

 as it promised us a speedy departure from Valparaiso, . 



A courier was immediately dispatched by the American deputy 

 vice-consul, to Santiago, the capital of Chih, to inform Mr. Poin- 

 sett, the American consul-general, of our arrival in the port of 

 Valparaiso ; and arrangements were made for getting our wood, 

 water, and provisions on board. The latter article I found could 

 be procured in the greatest abundance, of an excellent quality, 

 and at a more moderate price than in any port of the United 

 States. I also directed a daily supply of fresh beef and vegeta- 

 bles, fruit and fresh bread for the crew, and, by the time I had 

 completed these arrangements, was informed that the governor 

 intended returning my visit. I consequently went on board to 

 receive him, and on his arrival, with a numerous suite of officers, 

 saluted him with eleven guns. It appears that many of them 

 had never before seen a frigate, all of them being native Chilians, 

 and this being the first, since their recollection, that had entered 

 the port. The Standard, a British ship of the line, had touched 

 there four months since for refreshments, on her way to Lima ; 

 but some misunderstanding having taken place between them and 



