in the Pacific Ocean. US 



islands that would answer our pur|)ose,4is well as furnish the crew 

 with such fresh provisions and vegetables as might be necessary 

 during our stay there, by which means we should be enabled to 

 save our salt provisions. 



On the meridian of the SOth, a signal was made for a ship in 

 the south bay^ and shortly after another was hoisted for a boat 

 standing in for the harbour. A fresh breeze springing up, she 

 soon rounded the southeast point of Narborough, and from her 

 general appearance all beheved it to be the Essex Junior, which 

 opinion was soon confirmed by the arrival of Lieutenant Downes^ 

 who had left the ship early in the morning, while she was be- 

 calmed. His arrival was welcomed by our seamen with three 

 cheers ; and at three P. M. the Kssex Junior anchored near us. 

 By this ship I received several letters from our consul-general at 

 Valparaiso^ as well as ether friends there ; also letters from our 

 consul at Buenos Ayres, and newspapers, which, though of old 

 dates, contained news of the greatest interest to us. 



Lieutenant Downes had moored the Montezuma, Plector, and 

 Catherine^ at Valparaiso, but had dispatched the Policy for 

 America, as there was no prospect of selling the ship or her cargo 

 to any advantage at Valparaiso. An open declaration of war had 

 taken place between Chili and Peru, and an entire stop put to 

 commerce between the two governments, which had hitherto con- 

 tinued uninterupted, notwithstanding their hostilities to each other. 

 The Chilians showed to Lieutenant Downes the same friendly 

 disposition which I had formerly experienced, and every facility 

 was offered to him in procuring his supplies, as well as those 

 wanting for the Essex. He met with some delays in consequence 

 of the stagnation of commerce, but every assistance that the 

 government could give him was afforded. 



And nov/ I shall notice the important services rendered by our 

 coming into the Pacific. In the first place, by our captures we 

 had completely broken up the important branch of British naviga- 

 tion the whale-fishery of the coast of Chili and Peru, having 

 captured all their vessels engaged in that pursuit except the ship 

 Comet. By these captures we had deprived the enemy of pro- 

 perty to the amount of two and a half millions of dollars, and 

 of the services of three hundred and sixty seamen, that I libe- 

 rated on parole, not to serve against the United States until 

 regularly exchanged. We had effectually prevented them from 

 doing any injury to our own whale-ships, only two of which 

 have been captured, and their captures took place before our ar- 

 rival. Shortly after my appearance in those seas, our whale-ships, 

 which had taken refuge at Conception and Valparaiso, boldly 

 Ventured to sea in pursuit of whales. On the arrival of the 

 Essex Junior at Valparaiso, four of them had returned there with 

 Voyages and Travels, No. XLVII. Vol. Vlll. l 



