As regarded my prizes, I informed him, they were only in- 

 cumbrances to me, and I should take them to sea, and de- 

 stroy them, the first opportunity. He told me I dared not 

 do it while he was in sight. 1 rephed, " we shall see." 



Finding Captain Hillyar determined to yield none of the 

 advantages of his superior force, and being informed there 

 were other ships bound into the Pacific Ocean, in pursuit 

 of me, I secretly resolved to take every means of provo- 

 king him to a contest with his single ship. The Cherub 

 being quite near to the Essex, the respective crews occa- 

 sionally amused themselves with singing songs, selecting 

 those most appropriate to their situation and feelings. 

 Some of these were of their own composition. The songs 

 from the Cherub were better sung, but those of the Essex 

 were more witty, and more to the point. The national 

 tune of yankee doodle was the vehicle through which the 

 crew of the Essex, in full chorus, conveyed their nautical 

 sarcasms ; while " the sweet little cherub that sits up 

 aloft," was generally selected by their rivals. These things 

 were not only tolerated, but encouraged, by the officers, 

 through the whole of the first watch of the calm, delightful 

 nights of Chili ; much to the amusement of the people of 

 Valparaiso, and the frequent annoyance of the crew of the 

 Cherub. At length. Captain Hillyar requested me to put 

 a stop to this practice, and I informed him, I certainly 

 should not do so, while the singing continued on board the 

 Cherub. 



About this time, one of my prisoners made his escape, 

 by jumping overboard, from the Essex Junior. A boat put 

 off from the Cherub, to pick him up ; and notwithstanding 

 every effort on our part, he was carried on board the 

 Cherub. This affair led to the following correspondence 

 between Captain Hillyar and myself, in which the reader 

 will perceive some httle asperity, and the first which had 

 showed itself since our meeting. I felt that Captain Hill- 

 yar had violated his pledge in permitting the rescue of this 

 man, and could not forbear placing it in its true light. The 

 reason of my not demanding his restoration, must be ob- 

 vious to all, when it is considered how advantageous such 

 a precedent would be to me, predisposed as the British 

 sfailors are. to desert at every opportunity. 



