porter's journal. 



5^ 



Being desirous of determining the latitude and longitude of 

 St. Catharines from observation, and the old fortress on the 

 high point of that island being the best situation, I commu- 

 nicated to Sabine my wishes of sending Mr. Adams there 

 for the purpose of taking the necessary distances and al- 

 titudes, and requested him to write a li«e to the command- 

 er of the fort, explaining our object, which was done ; but 

 this officer, supposing he had come with some other views, 

 or not wishing to accomm.odate us, refused him the per- 

 mission requested ; he, however, was enabled to effect his 

 object on the beach, and the result was as follows : 



Our anchorage, latitude 27" 26' 10" south; longitude 48' 

 2' 20" west. 



The fort at Ponite Groce, latitude 27° 24' 46" south ; 

 longitude 47" 55' 30" west. 



The northeast point of St. Catharines, Ponte de Bottle, 

 latitude 27° 46' 49" south ; longitude 47° 42' 48" west. 



Variation of the compass 6' 27' east. 



On liberating captain Helt, and the men accompanying 

 him, I caused them to sign an obligation not to serve 

 against the United States during the existing war, unless 

 regularly exchanged. I gave to captain Helt a letter for the 

 British admiral at Rio Janeiro, and another for the Ame- 

 rican minister, which he promised, on oath, to dehver. 



To Sabine I gave a letter, to be delivered to the com- 

 mander of any American frigate that should put in to St. 

 Catharines ; he gave me assurances tliat it should be de- 

 livered : the letter ran as follows : 



Your letter of the 3d December has been received. 

 Yeo has been punctual. I have taken but two vessels. 

 It is much to be regretted that we have not yet met. I 

 have just heard of the capture of the Hornet. Should we 

 not meet by the 1st of April, be assured that, by pursuing 

 mi/ own course, I shall have been actuated by views to the 

 good of the service, and that there will have been an abso- 

 lute necessity for my doing so. 



As an American, I have been treated well here : I am 

 afraid to trust more to this letter, 

 January ^Oth, 1813. 



