rORTER*S JOURNAL. 



161 



communications of a private nature, and beg you to restore 

 the originals, after you have perused and (if you think 

 them of sufficient importance) taken a copy of them. I 

 have been induced to do this, from a wish to remove cer- 

 tain impressions which have been made on the public 

 mind, highly prejudicial to the character of an American 

 officer; and I assure you, although I have endeavoured to 

 perform, and shall continue to do, my duty to my country, 

 to the utmost of my abilities, I disdain a mean and disho- 

 nourable act, whatever advantages may result from it. It 

 has been my study to alleviate the miseries of war, and I 

 have been rewarded in most instances, with the basest 

 ingratitude. 



British boats, with British subjects on board, daily pass 

 and repass between the shore and the ships under your 

 command, when far beyond the jurisdiction of this port. 

 It has frequently been in my power to cut them off ; but I 

 have not done so, under the persuasion that American 

 boats, under similar circumstances, would be permitted 

 by you to pass unmolested. I beg you to inform me, 

 whether my opinion is correct ? 



I have the honour to be, &c. 

 (Signed) D. PORTER. 



Captain James Hillyar^ ^c. ^c. 



H. B. M. ship Ph(Ebe, off Valparaiso, 24f/i Feb. 1814. 



Sir, 



I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 

 your favour of yesterday, with its enclosures, and 1 beg you 

 will accept my thanks for the trouble you have taken. 

 The copy of Sir John Duckworth's letter, and the extracts 

 accompanying it, confirm me in my opinion, that the cases 

 are too nearly similar, to justify my acceding to your pro- 

 position of sending one of your prizes as a cartel ; and the 

 British government would certainly disapprove of the act. 



The letters from your prisoners must be highly gratifying 

 to your personal feelings — and I hope the individuals who 

 have benefited by your humane attentions, will feel them- 

 selves bound in honour to rescue your character from every 

 unjust and illiberal aspersion. 



I certainly could have no objection to American boats 

 passing in the way British do to us, under similar circum- 

 stances. They have all the Governor's permission. 



