146 



porter's journal, 



constantly exposed to their raking fire ; and after getting 

 clear of them, anchored on the Eastern side of the 

 harbour, within reach of her long eighteen pounders, 

 but beyond the range of my carronades. The Cherub 

 anchored within pistol-shot of my larboard bow, and, upon 

 this, I ordered the Essex Junior to take a position that 

 w^ould place the Cherub between her fire and that of 

 the Essex : an arrangement that gave great umbrage to 

 her commander, Captain Tucker. 



On going ashore, there was a general expression of 

 astonishment among the officers of the government, and 

 the people of Valparaiso, at my forbearance in not taking 

 advantage of the opportunity which had thus presented 

 itself for destroying the enemy. My reply was, that 1 had 

 always respected the neutrahty of their port, and should 

 scrupulously continue to do so. Nor, although subsequent 

 events have proved that Captain Hillyar was incapable of 

 a similar forbearance, have I ever regretted, for a single 

 moment, that I permitted him to escape, when, either by 

 accident or design, he had placed himself entirely at my 

 mercy. At no time, during the engagement which took 

 place afterwards, or since, would I have changed situa- 

 tions or feelings with that officer. 



Captain Hillyar and Captain Tucker, the day after their 

 arrival, paid me a visit at the house of Mr. Blanco, where 

 I generally staid while on shore. Their visit was soon 

 returned, and a friendly intimacy established, not only be- 

 tween the commanders and myself, but the officers and 

 boats' crews of the respective ships. No one, to have judged 

 from appearances, would have supposed us to have been 

 at war, our conduct towards each other bore so much the 

 appearance of a friendly alliance. At our first interview, 

 I took occasion to tell Captain Hillyar, it was very impor- 

 tant that I should know of him, whether he intended to 

 respect the neutrality of the port. He replied, with much 

 emphasis and earnestness : " You have paid so much 

 respect to the neutrality of the port, that I feel myself 

 bound in honour to respect it." 1 told him, the assurance 

 was sufficient, and that it would place me more at ease, 

 since I should now no longer feel it necessary to be always 

 prepared for action. 



In the course of this conversation. I adverted to a flag he 



