PORTER S JOURNAL.. 



119 



ly ; but perceiving the water to have a yellow tinge, and 

 feeling apprehensive that it might undergo fermentation, 

 from the food v/hich had at ditferent times been thrown in, 

 I supposed that pure water would be better than that in 

 which it had been so long confined, but concluded it best 

 to produce a gradual change. With this view I put into the 

 bottle about one gill of the water we had taken on board at 

 Valparaiso. The water in the bottle gradually assumed a 

 milky appearance, and next morning 1 found the fish dead, 

 and floating on the surface. This confirmed suspicions we 

 had before entertained of the bad qualities of this water. 

 Doctor Miller, who was in a very low state of health, and had 

 been so ever since he joined the Essex, complained of its pro- 

 ducing costiven^ss. I also, and many others, experienced 

 the same effect ; it has a disagreeable, brackish taste, and it 

 is with great difficulty it can be made to mix with soap. 



On the evening of the 4th, James SpalFord, the gunner^s 

 mate, who had been so unfortunately wounded by accident 

 at Mocha, departed this life, regretted by every officer and 

 man iii the ship. He had distinguished himself by his mo- 

 ral and correct conduct under my command, and I had in- 

 tended promoting him to a better situation, so soon as cir- 

 cumstances would admit. 



I conceived it necessary to hold an inquest over his body, 

 as well to satisfy the crew, and to remove every erroneous 

 impression on the subject, as to relieve the officer himself, 

 who had been the unfortunate cause of the death of this 

 poor fellow. I consequently issued the following order : 



United States frigate Essex, at sea, 

 April 5, 1813. 



An inquest is hereby directed to be held on the body of 

 James Spaffi>rd, in order to ascertain by what manner he 

 came by his death ; and to this object lieutenant DowneSj 

 lieutenant Wilmer, lieutenant Wilson, and lieutenant Gam» 

 ble, will obtain all possible information on the subject : and, 

 assisted by Mr. Shaw, will draw up a statement of facts, in 

 order that I may be enabled to judge whether farther pro- 

 ceedings should be had in the case of the officer who is sup« 

 posed to be the unfortunate cause. 



They are authorized to summon such of the officers and 

 crew as may be necessary for their purpose \ and they are 



