m the Pacific Ocean. 119 



salute. The Governor was accompanied by his wife and several 

 of his officers. 



On the evening of the seventh, I invited the officers of the go- 

 vernment, their families, and all the other respectable inhabitants, 

 to an entertainment on board the Essex. To give Lieutenant 

 Downes an opportunity to participate in these gaieties, I directed 

 him to anchor his vessel, but so as to save a full view of the sea. 



The daiicing continued until midnight ; after which Lieutenant 

 Downes repaired to his vessel, got her under way, and proceeded to 

 sea. We had not yet taken down the awnings, flags, &c. which 

 we usually employed on these occasions for the decorations of 

 ships of war, nor got clear of the confusion which so large a 

 company naturally occasioned, before the Essex Junior made a 

 signal for two enemy''s ships in sight. 



On my return to the Essex, at half-past seven, one hour and 

 a half only after the enemy came in sight, I found the ship 

 completely prepared for action, and every man on board, and, 

 at his post. YV^e had now only to act on the defensive. At 

 eight o'clock the two ships came into the harbour ; the frigate, 

 which proved to be the Phoebe, Captain Hillyar, ranging up 

 alongside of the Essex, and between her and the Essex Junior, 

 within a few yards of the former. The Phoebe was fully pre- 

 pared for action. Captain Hillyar very politely inquired after 

 my health ; to which inquiry I returned the usual compliment. 



Finding the Phoebe was approaching nearer than prudence or 

 a strict neutrality would justify me in permitting, I observed to 

 Captain Hillyar, that my ship was perfectly prepared for action, 

 but that I should only act on the defensive. 



Captain Hillyar and Captain Tucker, the day after their ar- 

 rival, paid me a visit at the house of Mr. Blanco, where I gene- 

 rally staid while on shore. Their visit was soon returned, and a 

 friendly intimacy established, not only between the commanders 

 and myself, but the officers and boats"* crews of the respective 

 ships. No one, to have judged from appearances, would have 

 svipposed us to have been at war, our conduct towards each other 

 bore so much the appearance of a friendly alliance. At our first 

 interview, I took occasion to tell Captain Hillyar, it was A^ery 

 important that I should know of him, whether he intended to 

 respect the neutrality of the port ? He replied, with much em- 

 phasis and earnestness : " You have paid so much respect to the 

 neutrality of the port, that I feel myself bound in honour to 

 respect it." I told him, the assurance was sufficient, and that it 

 would place me more at ease, since I should nov/ no longer feel 

 it necessary to be always prepared for action. 



The Phoebe, agreeably to my expectations, came to seek me 

 at Valparaiso, where I was anchored with the Essex, my armed 

 prize the Essex Junior, under the command of Lieutenant 



