202 



PORTER S J OU RIVAL. 



hear from me in Resolution Bay, in the latter part of Sep- 

 tember, and first of October. 1 intend there to refit my 

 ship. 



(Signed) D. PORTER. 



Lkuleiiant John Dozvnes, 



And now finding myself in the latitude of 7' 15' south, 

 and nearly in the longitude of the Galiipagos, I parted 

 company with the Essex Junior and her convoy, and stood 

 to the eastward, until they were out of sight. 1 then shaped 

 my course for the Galiipagos Islands, which I was strongly 

 induced to visit again, as I had received intelligence of 

 three English armed ships having sailed from Tumbez a 

 fortnight before my arrival there. 1 had every expecta- 

 tion of their having gone to their favourite fishing-ground, 

 and particularly as it was stated that they had information 

 of my being on the coast, had kept together for mutual pro- 

 tection, and had expressed a determination to seek for and 

 at tack me. 



I kept with me the store-ship Greenwich and the Geor- 

 giana, intending to send the latter to the United States 

 oa my arrival at the islands, as she had her cargo of oil 

 nearly complete, and the season was now approaching 

 which would be most proper to despatch her. I was de- 

 sirous that she should approach our coast in the dead of 

 winter, as British ships of war could not, at that season of 

 the year, keep the sea to blockade our northern ports. 



On the 12th, I made Charles' Island, and hove to for 

 the night. In the morning I ran close in with Essex Bay, 

 and sent the boat on shore to the postoffice. On her return 

 was informed, that all the papers had been taken from the 

 box ; that some small kegs, which had been left through 

 neglect by our people, when last there, had been taken 

 away, as well as some wood we had left on the beach. 

 Fresh tortoise shells had been found, which convinced us 

 that some vessel had been there quite lately. 



The letters for lieutenant Downes, buried in the bottle, 

 remained, however, untouched. Those were brought on 

 board, and a short note, informing him of the time of my 

 having stopped there, was left in their place. I then bore 

 up for Banks' Bay, and arrived at midnight off the south 

 head of Albemarle, where I hove to, for the purpose of 



