240 



ters from our consul-general at Valparaiso, as well as other 

 friends there ; also letters from our consul at Buenos Ayres, 

 and newspapers, which, though of old dates, contained 

 news of the greatest interest to us. 



We obtained intelligence by them of the re-election of 

 Mr. Madison to the presidency, and various changes in the 

 different executive departments of the government ; as also 

 the most satisfactory accounts of the successes of our navy, 

 in every instance where our ships had encountered an ene- 

 my of equal force. My letters from our consul at Buenos 

 Ayres informed me, that on the 5th July, the British frigate 

 Phoebe, of thirty-six guns, and the Raccoon and Cherub 

 sloops of war, of twenty-four guns each, accompanied by a 

 store-ship of twenty guns, had sailed from Rio de Janeiro 

 for the Pacific ocean, in pursuit of the Essex. I also ob- 

 tained intelligence that several British merchant ships were 

 soon expected at Valparaiso from England, with valuable 

 cargoes ; and Mr. Downes informed me, that he had left 

 one there richly laden, and on the point of sailing for 

 India. 



Lieutenant Downes had moored the Montezuma, Hec- 

 tor, and Catharine at Valparaiso, but had despatched the 

 Policy for America, as there was no prospect of selling the 

 ship or her cargo to any advantage at Valparaiso. An open 

 declaration of war had taken place between Chili and 

 Peru, and an entire stop put to the commerce between the 

 two governments, which had hitherto continued uninter- 

 rupted, notwithstanding their hostilities to each other. 



The Chilians showed to lieutenant Downes the same 

 friendly disposition which I had formerly experienced, and 

 every faciUty was offered to him in procuring his supplies, 

 as well as those wanting for the Essex. He met with some 

 delays in consequence of the stagnation of commerce, but 

 every assistance that the government could give him was 

 afforded. 



The only British whale-ship we could hear of on the coast 

 was the Comet, a letter of marque of twenty guns, which 

 had been taken from her by the government of Chili, in 

 consequence of her having been active in favour of the Pe- 

 ruvians. She was therefore laid up at Conception. She 

 and the aforesaid ship at Valparaiso bound to India, and 

 the English brig which I foi\nd there on my arrival, were 



