PORTER rt JOLKNAL. 



47 



winds had now" shifted to the northward, and biew in fresli 

 gales, I concluded it would be best to make as much east- 

 ing as possible, to be in a situation to take advantage of any 

 favourable change. Our latitude on the meridian of this 

 day, 22° 13' 17" south; longitude 36'' 49' 30" west. Our 

 crew continue to be remarkably healthy, there being but 

 one man under the doctor's charge ; and he a carpenter, 

 who accidentally cut his foot with an adze, in making the 

 trussel-trees. 



Between the 6th and 12th, nothing of any importance 

 occurred ; the winds being obstinately from the northward, 

 and continuing to blow in fresh gales ; nor did I perceive a 

 chance of a change. I determined, therefore, to give up all 

 farther pursuit of the convoy that had already taken us so 

 far from the tmck of other British vessels, and at 9, A. IVL, 

 wore round, and stood to the westward. Our latitude at 

 noon was 24' 39' 44" south ; longitude 27° 43' 20'west. My 

 intention was to run into St. Sebastians or St.Catharines, 

 as the w ind should suit. My object in going into port was 

 to procure a supply of wood and water, which were both 

 getting low, and to procure refreshments for my crew, as I 

 began to be apprehensive of the effects of salt provisions. 

 I gave the preference to St. Catharines, however, as I was 

 more distant from Rio Janeiro ; and I should have an op- 

 portunity of getting to sea again, before the enemy could 

 hear of me; for as St. Sebastians is but one day's run from 

 Rio Janeiro, there would have been a certainty of my be- 

 ing attacked, or blockaded, if the expected reinforcements 

 should have arrived. At St. Catharines I had not so much 

 to apprehend from an attack, as I had understood the place 

 was well fortified, and could protect us : added to this, it 

 was a place of more importance. I had reason to expect 

 that 1 should be enabled to procure a supply of bread, 

 flour, rum, and many other articles of provisions and stores, 

 which would be necessary for us, to enable me to meet at 

 the last appointed rendezvous ; that being the only one 

 at which I could now reasonably expect to meet commo- 

 dore Bainbridge, as he had appointed me at Praya, Fer- 

 nando de Noronha, and at Cape Frio. St. Sebastians was 

 the fourth place appointed ; but as he had changed his 

 whole plan in remaining off Bahia, I thought it just as 

 likely that he would touch first at St. Catiiarines, the fifth 

 place of rendezvous, as at St, Sebastians, 



