32 



porter's journal^ 



that neighbourhood by the deposite of matter brought 

 from the coast of Brazils. 



All navigators, in crossing between the Cape de Verds 

 and the coast of Brazils, have remarked the irregularities of 

 the currents, but none have heretofore attempted to account 

 for them ; and I should not have hazarded an opinion on this 

 subject, were I not firmlj of the belief that the trade winds 

 are the great cause of currents in the north and south Atlan- 

 tic oceans. 



On the 1 1 th crossed the equator in the longitude of 30" W* 

 Since the 9th we have had (particularly at night) squally 

 weather, with heavy showers of rain; this may be account- 

 ed for satisfactorily by the vapours being condensed by the 

 cool S. E. trades. 



On the 12th, about 2, P. M., discovered a sail to wind- 

 ward, which bore the appearance of a British brig of war ; 

 made all sail in chase of her, and at six she displayed a sig- 

 nal. With a view of decoying her down to me, I displayed 

 such British signals as I became possessed of during my last 

 cruise, but without effect. At sunset she hoisted British 

 colours, and after dark made her night signals. At nine we 

 were within musket shot, and being desirous of doing her 

 as little injury as possible, I gave orders that the great guns 

 should not be fired; I hailed her, and directed her to lower 

 her topsails, haul up her courses, and heave to to wind- 

 ward ; but as she attempted to run athwart my stern, with a 

 view, as I supposed, to rake us and make her escape, I di- 

 rected a volley of musketry to be fired, which (I am sorry 

 to say) killed one man on board her. She proved to be his 

 majesty's packet Nocton, bound to Falmouth, of ten guns 

 and thirty-one men. I, that night, took out the prisoners, 

 and a quantity of specie found on board, amounting to about 

 g55,000. 



On the 1 3th despatched the prize under the command of 

 lieutenant Finch, and as I sent in her seventeen of the pri- 

 soners, I was under the necessity of parting with as many of 

 my own crew. I put on board the prize the captain, master, 

 and passengers ; and, with a view of securing their neu- 

 trality in the event of any attempt to retake the vessel, I 

 permitted them to go on parole of honour, with the privi- 

 lege of embarking on board any vessel they might meet, 

 bound to England or elsewhere. As I have never permit^ 



