1^0 



Pmter^s Voyage 



Do'Wiies, on the look-out off the harbour. But, contrary to the* 

 course I thought he would pursue, Commodore Hillyar brought 

 with him the Cherub sloop of war, mounting twenty-eight guns, ( 

 eighteen thirty-two pound carronades, eight twenty-fours, and 

 two long nines on the quarter-deck and forecastle, and a com- 

 plement of a hundred and eighty men. The force of the Phoebe 

 is as follows : thirty long eighteen pounders, sixteen thirty-two 

 pound carronades, one howitzer, and six three pounders in the 

 tops, in all fifty-three guns, and a complement of three hundred 

 and twenty men ; making a force of eighty-one guns and five 

 hundred men — in addition to which, they took on board the 

 crew of an English letter of marque lying in port. Both ships 

 had picked crews, and were sent into the Pacific in company 

 with the Racoon of twenty-two guns, and a store-ship of twenty 

 guns, for the express purpose of seeking the Essex, and were 

 prepared with flags bearing the motto "God and our country ; 

 British sailors' best rights ; traitors offend both."'' This was in- 

 tended as a reply to my motto, " Free trade and sailors' right s^^ 

 under the erroneous impression that my crew were chiefly Eng- 

 lishmen, or to counteract its effect on their own crews. — The 

 force of the Essex was forty-six guns, forty thirty-two pound 

 carronades, and six long twelves, and her crew, which had been 

 much reduced by prizes, amounted only to two hundred and 

 fifty-five men. T he Essex Junior, which was intended chiefly as 

 a store-ship, mounted twenty guns, ten eighteen pound carronades, 

 and ten short sixes, with only sixty men on board. In reply to 

 their motto, I wrote at my mizen — " God, our Country, and 

 Liberty ; tyrants offend them.'''' 



On getting their provisions on board, they went off* the port 

 for the purpose of blockading me, where they cruised for near 

 six weeks ; during which time I endeavoured to provoke a chal- 

 lenge, and frequently, but ineffectually, to bring the Phoebe 

 alone to action, first with both my ships, and afterward with my 

 single ship, with both crews on board. I was several times un- 

 der way, and ascertained that I had greatly the advantage in 

 point of sailing, and once succeeded in closing within gun-shot 

 of the Phoebe, and commenced a fire on her, when she ran down 

 for the Cherub, which was two and a half miles to leeward. 

 This excited some surprise and expressions of indignation, as 

 previous to my getting under way, she hove too off* the port, 

 hoisted her motto flag, and fired her guns to windward. Com- 

 modore Hillyar seemed determined to avoid a contest with me 

 on nearly equal terms, and from his extreme prudence in keep- 

 ing both his ships ever after constantly within hail of each other, 

 there were no hopes of any advantages to my country from a 

 longer stay in port. I therefore determined to put to sea the 

 fost opportunity which should off'er ; and I was the more strongly 



