porter's journal. 



201 



building up breastworks, and making the necessary altera- 

 tions on board her. On the 4th of July a salute of seventeen 

 guns was fired from the Essex, Essex Junior, and Green- 

 wich, in commemoration of the anniversary of the inde- 

 pendence of the United States ; and as we were enabled 

 to procure from the prizes a sufficient quantity of spirits 

 to issue to our crew, the day was spent in the utmost 

 conviviality, their grog being doubly relished from their 

 having for some time past been entirely destitute. 



On the 9th, having completed the equipments of the Es- 

 sex Junior, and there being no necessity for my remaining 

 longer with her, I directed lieutenant Downes to proceed 

 to Valparaiso with the prize-ships Hector, Catharine, Poli- 

 cy, and Montezuma, and the American ship Barclay. He 

 had directions to leave the Barclay there, and to sell the 

 others to the best advantage, leaving it discretionary with 

 him»whether to send the Policy to the United States, she 

 having a full cargo of spermaceti oil, which cannot be sold 

 on this coast without great loss. I furnished him with blank 

 powers of attorney for appointing an agent for the sale of 

 our prizes ; and as I gave him directions to procure for the 

 Essex a quantity of spirits and some other articles, I fur- 

 nished him with four thousand dollars to make the pur- 

 chases, in the event of his being disappointed in the sale of 

 the vessels. On leaving me, I gave him sealed instructions, 

 with orders not to open them until he had left Valparaiso, 

 which were as follows : 



(confidential.) 



United States' Frigate Essex, 

 At sea, 1st July, 1812. 



Sir, 



On leaving Valparaiso, you will scour the coast of Chili 

 and Peru, keeping the usual distance for whalers. It will 

 be adviseable to look into the harbour of Lima ; from 

 thence proceed to the Galllpagos, searching Hood's and 

 Charles' Islands for letters ; should you find none at either 

 of those places, look into James' Island. Get clear of all 

 prisoners before leaving the islands if possible, and proceed 

 to join me at the island of Chitahoo, or Santa Christiana, 

 one of the Marquesas, where you will find me at anchor, or 



VOL, I, 26 



