PORTER'S JOURKAL. 



115 



had captured a British sloop of war after a hard-fought ac- 

 tion, but had afterwards been captured by a frigate ; and 

 that the Constitution was repairing her damages at St. Sal- 

 vador, where the British admiral (Dixon) had proceeded, 

 with a determination of destroying her. This news of the 

 operations of our little navy makes us pant for an opportu- 

 nity of doing something ourselves. We have, however, a 

 wide field for enterprise before us, and shall shortly enter 

 on the scene of action ; and although, perhaps, we shall 

 neither have an opportunity of laying towns under contri- 

 bution, nor sinking frigates, still we hope to render a ser- 

 vice to our country no less essential, to wit : the protection 

 of our commerce, and the destruction of that of the enemy. 



On the 28th I made all sail to the northward, and on the 

 3d of April made the high lands of Nasia, on the coast of 

 Peru. The interval between these two periods was not 

 marked by any extraordinary occurrence. We were em- 

 ployed in taking all advantages of the winds in getting to 

 the northward, and in disguising our ship, which was done 

 by painting her in such a manner as to conceal her real 

 force, and exhibiting in its stead the appearance of painted 

 guns, &;c. ; also by giving her the appearance of having a 

 poop, and otherwise so altering her as to make her look 

 like a Spanish merchant vessel. The winds were con- 

 stantly fair ; the weather remarkably clear, line, and tem- 

 perate ; the sea smooth ; and every thing favourable for 

 making such little repairs and alterations as the ship re- 

 quired. 



Immediately on passing the tropic, we met with flying- 

 fish : this is the first we met w ith since we left the coast of 

 Brazil. 



At six o'clock of the 28th, we were abreast the island of 

 Sangailan, or St. Gallan, when I hauled oif to the northwest, 

 with a view of crossing the track of vessels bound to Callao. 

 On the morning of the 29th, to the great joy of all on board, 

 we discovered three sail standing in for the harbour, two 

 to windward and one to leeward. I consequently made all 

 sail for the port to cut them off, and, as I approached the 

 headmost vessel, she seemed to answer the description I 

 had received of the Barclay. As she was nearest to the 

 port, I determined to turn all my attention to her, and to 

 lise every effort to prevent her getting in ; but as she ap- 



