porter's journal. 



49 



hastened to the tub for fear of losing his allowance. After 

 this, no farther complaint was made. 



Since leaving Port Pray a we Jiad no opportunity of procu- 

 ring refreshments ; our water was getting short, and it be- 

 came necessary to ascertain what prospect we had of a sup- 

 ply of salt provisions, bread, and rum. I therefore deter- 

 mined to proceed to the island of St. Catharines, and with 

 a view of enabling the officers and crew to provide them- 

 selves with such articles as they might need, I distributed 

 among them a large proportion of the prize-money taken 

 from the Nocton. Giving it, however, to the seamen be- 

 fore they had an opportunity of spending it, (although it had 

 the effect of producing cheerfulness among them,) was at- 

 tended with evil consequences, as it introduced gambling, 

 which w^as the cause of some thefts. I, however, soon put 

 a stop to it, by signifying that he who asked for, or paid a 

 gambling debt, should be punished ; and that all moneys, 

 staked in gambling, should be forfeited to the informer, 

 whose name should remain secret. 



On the 1 8th spoke a Portuguese vessel from Rio Janeiro, 

 the captain of which informed me that the Montague had 

 sailed on the 6th of the month, in pursuit, as was reported, of 

 an American frigate and sloop of war, off Bahia. In con- 

 firmation of this, he sent me a newspaper mentioning her de- 

 parture. He could not tell me whether the admiral had gone 

 to sea in her or not. He was disposed, however, to give me 

 all the information in his power on the subject, being fully 

 impressed with the belief we were an English frigate, from 

 the River of Plate. I w^as desirous of ascertaining whether 

 the admiral had sailed in the ship, as my conduct would in 

 a great measure be governed by that circumstance. Had 

 he sailed in the Montague, I should have calculated on more 

 time to remain at St. Catharines before being blockaded, as 

 I did not suppose that the reinforcements, which I knew 

 were expected from England, would be enabled to sail in 

 pursuit of me, even if they had heard of my being at that 

 place, before receiving instructions. I, however, deter- 

 mined to stay as short a time as possible, and hoped to get 

 out before they could hear of me. Our latitude on the nle- 

 ridian of this day was 26" 46' 43" south, longitude by chro° 

 ^ nometer 47° 44' 58 " west. 



On the 19th made the island of St. Catharines^ bearing 

 VOL. r. 7 



