1S6 Porter'' s Voyage in thg Pacific Ocean. 



Captain Hillyar, which has thus been violated, and shall dct 

 accordingly. 



At seven the next morning, the wind being light from the south- 

 ward, and the ships about thirty or forty miles off the eastern 

 part of Long Island, within about musket shot of each other, I 

 determined to attempt my escape. There appeared no disposition 

 on the part of the enemy to liberate the Essex Junior, and I felt 

 myself justified in this measure. A boat was accordingly lowered 

 down, manned and armed ; and I left with Lieutenant Downes 

 the following message for Captain Nash : " that Captain Porter 

 was now satisfied, that most British officers were not only 

 destitute of honour, but regardless of the honour of each other ; 

 that he was armed, and prepared to defend himself against his 

 boats, if sent in pursuit of him ; and that he must be met, if. met 

 at all, as an enemy." I now pulled off from the ship, keeping 

 the Essex Junior in a direct line between my boat and the Saturn, 

 and got nearly gun shot from her before they discovered me. At 

 that instant, a fresh breeze sprang up, and the Saturn made all 

 sail after us. Fortunately, however, a thick fog came on, upon 

 which I changed my course, and entirely eluded further pursuit. 

 During the fog, I heard a firing ; and on its clearing up, saw the 

 Saturn in chase of the Essex Junior ; which vessel was soon 

 brought to. After rowing and sailing about sixty miles, I at last 

 succeeded, with much difficulty and hazard, in reaching the town 

 of Babylon, on Long Island, where, being strongly suspected of 

 being a British officer, I was closely interrogated ; and, my story 

 appearing rather extraordinary, was not credited. But on 

 showing my commission, all doubts were removed, and from 

 that moment, all united in affording me the most hberal hos- 

 pitality. 



On my arrival by land at New-York, the reception given me 

 by the inhabitants, as well as by those of every other place 

 through which I passed, it becomes not me to record. It is suffi- 

 cient to say, it has made an impression on my mind, never to be 

 effaced ! 



The Essex Junior, after being detained the whole of the day 

 following my escape and ransacked for money, her crew mus- 

 tered on deck under pretence of detecting deserters, her officers 

 insulted, and treated with shameful outrage, was at length dis- 

 missed, and arrived next day at New- York, where she was con- 

 demned and sold, 



THE END. 



