102 



P()RTER*S JOURNAL.^ 



the knives alone, no other metal or substance whatever 

 was used for any part of the table equipage. The dinner 

 consisted of at least twenty changes ; and by the time the 

 third course had been removed, we had cause to regret that 

 we had not reserved our appetites for some of the dehca- 

 cies which we perceived were hkely to succeed the sub- 

 stantial food of the first course, which we had begun upon 

 with keen appetites, and were soon cloyed. The officers 

 of the Portuguese ship, and some English merchants, were 

 also at table ; but when the wine began to circulate, and the 

 Chilian officers to feel the ardour of their patriotism, such 

 flaming toasts were given, as to make them think it prudent 

 to retire. 



As the ball was to succeed the dinner in the tent, we 

 walked round with the governor to look at the fortitica- 

 tions, which were in tolerable order; and on our return 

 found the ladies assembled, dressed in all their splendour, 

 and unusually disfigured witii paint. The night was spent 

 with much hilarity, and at one o'clock in the morning we 

 repaired on board. Having now little to detain us, I intend- 

 ed sailing early ; but the ladies seemed determined not to be 

 cheated out of a visit to the ship, for the governor, his wife, 

 with a boat-load of other ladies, came on board about nine 

 o'clock, and remained until twelve. On their leaving us, 

 I saluted them with eleven guns. We now prepared to 

 weigh our anchor; but the arrival of an American whale- 

 ship, that had been carried into Lima, and there libemted, 

 (after great loss of time, and paying costs of suit,) occasion- 

 ed some little delay, as 1 was desirous of obtaining the news 

 from her. The captain, (Worth,) on coming on board, in- 

 formed me, that a few days before he had spoken with two 

 English armed whalers, one olF the Island of Mocha, the 

 other off the harbour of Conception ; that three other Ame- 

 rican whalers were in company ; and that the English ships 

 were the first that gave them the intelligence of the war, and 

 informed them that they had no orders to capture American 

 vessels, but were in daily expectation of authority to that 

 effect. Captain Worth also informed me, that several Eng- 

 lish whale-ships were cruising among the Gallipagos islands, 

 and off the harbour of Payta, on the coast of Peru, and re- 

 commended by all means my proceeding to those places, 

 where I should be certain of meeting them ; he also gave 



