PORTER'S JOURNAL. 



CHAPTER 1. 



PASSAGE FROM THE DELAWARE TO THE CAPE DE VERD 

 ISLANDS, AND FROM THENCE TO CAPE FRIO , WITH 

 NAUTICAL REMARKS. 



October eth, 1812. I RECEIVED orders from commo- 

 dore William Bainbridge to prepare the Essex for a long 

 cruise, and on the day following received his final instruc- 

 tions, appointing places of rendezvous, and the next day a 

 copy of his orders from the honourable secretary of the 

 navy. 



I consequently directed the ship to be furnished with 

 every requisite supply of stores, 8zc, &;c. ; ordered for her 

 a new suit of sails and standing rigging ; took out the bow- 

 sprit and fished it ; and put her in the best possible state 

 for service ; taking in as much provision as she could stow, 

 and providing ourselves with a double supply of clothing ; 

 and fruit, vegetables, and lime juice as antiscorbutics. 1 

 also gave the officers and men intimation of the probable 

 length of our cruise, in order that they might supply them- 

 selves with such comforts as their means would admit of, 

 they having recently been paid a proportion of the prize- 

 money for the last cruise, and advanced the officers three 

 months' pay. They accordingly furnished themselves with 

 stock, vegetables, and other stores, in as large quantities as 

 could be stowed away ; and on the afternoon of the 28th 

 we left the capes of Delaware,*' with the wind from the 

 northward, which gradually hauled around to the westward, 

 blowing fresh, with thick weather, so that it was with diffi- 

 culty we were enabled to weather the dangerous shoals of 

 Chincoteague. On the morning of the 29th, the wind hauled 



VOL. I. 



" See note A at the end of the volume, 

 1 



