14a 



porter's journal. 



me, as to justify the belief of my being lost or taken, you 

 will proceed to Valparaiso to renew your stock of provi- 

 sions, and if after a reasonable time you gain no intelli- 

 gence of me, you will please to act agreeably to your own 

 discretion. 



While you cruise off Mocha, keep the island bearing 

 about east, distant ten or twelve leagues, and it will be ad- 

 viseable to look occasionally into the harbour. 



With sentiments of respect, 

 Your obedient servant, 

 Signed, D. PORTER. 



Lieutenant John Downes, commanding 

 the C7. S. armed prize-ship Essex 

 Junior, Massachusett'' s Bay. 



On leaving Madison's Island, I was enabled to pass be- 

 tween Hood's Island and Dominica, and from the preva- 

 lence of N. W. winds, I on the 18th found myself in the 

 longitude of 131" west. 



I shall not fatigue the reader with an account of the un- 

 interesting passage of a month to the coast of Chili. The 

 first land we made was the island of Mocha, from whence 

 we ran down and. anchored at St. Maries, were we filled 

 our water-casks, looked into Conception, where we found 

 only one English vessel, and thence proceeded to cruise 

 off Valparaiso. 



