226 



porter's jour.^al. 



Should I appear off with an English red ensign, hoisted 

 union down, at the fore, you will send a boat on board the 

 Essex. If the same signal is made at the main, it will be for 

 the Seringapatam and New Zealander to send their boats for 

 their crews, and you will please to furnish them assistance 

 for the purpose, if necessary. Should you leave the cove 

 before 1 arrive, you will bury a bottle, containing a letter, 

 in some suitable spot, near the landing-place at the head 

 of the cove, and cut in the rocks immediately over it the 

 letters S. X., in order that I may be enabled to find it. 



I need not inform you how important it is that the prizes 

 should not fall into the hands of the enemy. Your situation 

 will render their destruction (in the last extremity) very 

 easy. I would recommend to you to have as many boats, 

 as may be necessary for the escape of their crews, in con- 

 stant readiness for service, and a sufficiency of provisions 

 and water, &lc, &;c., provided for them at the shortest notice ; 

 and, in the event of the necessity of taking to them, I would 

 advise your proceeding to Charles' Island, as the most like- 

 ly place of meeting with the Essex Junior, or Essex ; and, 

 in case you should not fall in with either, it appears the 

 most likely place for you to take by surprise some British 

 vessel. Trusting much to your discretion, 



I have the honour to be, 

 Very respectfully. 



Your obedient servant, 

 (Signed) D. PORTER, 



Lieutenant John M. Gamble^ Prize-master 

 of the ship Greenroich, 



P. S. It is likely I shall be in the bay again in twenty or 

 twenty-five days. 



U. S. Frigate Essex, 

 Banks' Bay, 21st August, 1813. 



Sir, 



You will proceed to the cove with the prize under your 

 command, and moor agreeably to the instructions I have 

 given you. When you have properly secured your ship, 

 you will send on board the Essex all your crew, except the 

 following, to wit : one quarter-master, one seaman, and two 

 ordinary seaman ; and you will give every aid in your power 

 to lieutenant Gamble to protect the ships against any force 



