PORTER'S JOURNAL. 



203 



giving the ground a good examination, and at day-light 

 made all sail to the northward. At eleven A, M. disco- 

 vered three sail olf Banks' Bay, standing on a vvind, some 

 distance from each other. 1 gave chase to the one in the 

 centre ; the others, which appeared to be fine large ships, 

 stood on diirereat tacks, with a viev/ of eluding us, while 

 the one I was in chase of bore up from us. I felt appre- 

 hensive for the safely of my prizes, which were now a great 

 distance astern of us. The in-shore ship tacked to wind- 

 ward of us, and stood for them, with a view of cutting 

 them off ; but my anxiety vvas considerably relieved, on 

 seeing the Greenwich lieave to for the Georgiana to come 

 up, as I was confident it was for the purpose of getting her 

 crew out, as she soon after stood boldly down for the stran- 

 ger. We were not long in capturing the vessel we were in 

 chase of, which proved to be the English ship Charlton, of 

 ten guns, the captain of which informed me, that the ship 

 now to windward was tiie Seringapatam, of fourteen guns 

 and forty men, commanded by William Stavers, and that 

 the other was the New Zealander of eight guns. 



Notwithstanding the great interest 1 felt for the critical 

 situation of my prizes, as well as that which every officer 

 mast feel when in pursuit of an enemy, I could not help 

 remarking the operations of nature on the south side of 

 Narborough and on the southern part of Albemarle. Nar- 

 borough appeared to have undergone great changes since 

 our last visit, by the violent irruptions of its volcanoes ; and 

 at this time there were no less than four craters smoking 

 on that island, and one on the south part of Albemarle. 

 I should have before mentioned, that a few hours after 

 leaving Charles' Island, a volcano burst out with great 

 fury from its centre, which would naturally lead to the be- 

 lief of a submarine communication between them. 



Perceiving that the New Zealander had hove about to 

 stand toward us, I was impressed with a belief that they 

 had got over their alarm ; but, from the manoeuvres of the 

 other ship, I was persuaded that she supposed us an enemy, 

 and therefore determined to use every effort to take her 

 first. The Greenwich continued to run down for her, 

 while the Georgiana ran for the Essex. I soon threw a 

 crew on board the Charlton, and gave chase. Several 

 broadsides were exchanged between the Greenwich and 



