porter's journal. 



43 



when I hove to with three reefs in the topsails, and mizzen- 

 topsail aback. 



For the two last days the sliip has been surrounded with 

 dolphins, of which we have succeeded in catching great 

 numbers. 



On the morning of the 29th, the man at the mast-head 

 descried a sail to windward, and on going into the maintop 

 with my glass, perceived that she was a schooner, and stand- 

 ing in for the harbour of Rio. Made'ail sail in chase to en- 

 deavour to cut her off, but did not succeed in bringing her 

 to until about nine o'clock at night, when, after firing several 

 shot at her, she bore up and ran under our lee. She proved 

 to be the British schooner Elizabeth, from Rio bound to 

 England, but had put back in consequence of having sprung 

 a-leak. After taking the prisoners out, we discovered that 

 she had parted with a convoy of British vessels, under 

 charge of the Juniper, a three-masted schooner, about half 

 an hour before she was discovered by us. The prisoners 

 stated, that the Juniper had sailed the night before from 

 Rio, with six vessels in company, to wit: a cutter, 4 ships, 

 and the Elizabeth ; that the cutter had gone to the south- 

 ward to convoy a ship to St. Sebastians, and that the Juni* 

 per had proceeded to the eastward with the three others, 

 which were deeply laden, and dull-sailing ships. I also ob- 

 tained certain intelligence, that the British admiral's ship, 

 the Montague, was still at Rio Janeiro, with all her sails 

 unbent ; that a packet had sailed for England on Christmas 

 day ; and that there were' no British vessels there expected 

 to sail shortly. Believing that I should be enabled to over^^ 

 take the convoy in a few days, by carrying a press of sail, 

 I used every exertion to get clear of the schooner, and put 

 midshipman Clarke, with six men of our crew, and three 

 prisoners, on board her, with orders, leaving it discretionary 

 with him, whether to go direct to North America, or proceed 

 to Rio Janeiro. In the event of his going to the latter place, 

 I furnished him with the following letter, to be delivered to 

 the American minister there : 



United States Frigate Essex, at sea, 

 December 29, 1812. 

 Sir, — I have the honour to inform you, that I have this 

 evening captured the British schooner Elizabfth : but find- 



