porter's journal* 



205 



fectual ; for, notwithstanding every exertion to prevent it, 

 we were swept to the northwest as far as the latitude of 2° 

 8' north, and seeing no hopes of succeeding in a short time, I 

 determined to give the Charlton up to the captain, (as she 

 was an old vessel, and a dull sailer,) on condition that he 

 should land all my prisoners at Rio de Janeiro. To this 

 contract he, as well as the captain of the New Zealander, 

 bound themselves by oath ; and after taking from her a ca- 

 ble, and such other articles as were necessary for us, and 

 sending all her guns and military equipments on board the 

 Seringapatam, I despatched her on the 19th, with forty- 

 eight prisoners. The mates and sailors, however, express- 

 ed their determination not to go to Rio de Janeiro with the 

 ship, for fear of being pressed on board a British man of 

 war. They were very solicitous that I would allow them 

 whale-boats, and let them take their chance in them, de- 

 claring that any fate, however dreadful, would be prefera- 

 ble to a servitude in his majesty's navy. To this I would 

 not consent, lest it might be supposed I had turned them 

 adrift in the middle of the Pacific. They then requested to 

 remain with the Essex. I did not wish to be encumber- 

 ed by them, and would not agree to this proposal. They, 

 however, at length grew turbulent, and I was apprehensive 

 1 should have to use some coercive measures, in order to 

 restore to the captains the necessary authority to keep them 

 in order. But, after reasoning with them on the impro- 

 priety of their conduct, they became more orderly, and 

 made sail to the southward, giving us at their departure 

 three hearty cheers, and many (1 believe sincere) good wishes 

 for our success, and safe return to America. 



As the Seringapatam proved to be a fast-sailing ship, and 

 was in every respect calculated for a man of war, (and indeed 

 was built for one, in India, for Tippoo Saib.) I determined 

 to render her as formidable as possible, that, in case of any 

 accident happening to the Essex, our cruise might not be 

 entirely broken up. With this view I sent the gunners and 

 carpenters to work on her, and in a few days she was com- 

 pletely equipped, with twenty-two guns mounted on her. I 

 gave her in charge to Mr. Terry, master's mate, with di- 

 rections not to separate from us, and placed the New-Zea- 

 lander under the charge of Mr. Shaw, the purser, with 

 similar instructions. 



