i'OKTEiR^S JOURNAL. 



reports which have been circulated respecting my con- 

 duct. Yet I hope I shall always have sufficient control 

 over myself, to prevent any change in my conduct towards 

 those whom the fortune of war may place in my power ; 

 for, though such a change might be just, it would not 

 be generous. I fear 1 have done injury to my country, 

 and my fellow-citizens, by the practice of liberating Bri- 

 tish subjects who have fallen into my hands, before they 

 were exchanged. But the purity of my intentions was 

 evident to admiral Duckworth, and so long as my country 

 does not disapprove of this mode, 1 hope I may be the 

 means of averting some of those evils incident to captivity 

 I have the honour to be, &c. 

 (Signed) D. PORTER. 



Captain James Hillyar^ ^c, Sfc, 



H. B. M. ship Plmbe, off Valparaiso, 26th Feb. 1814. 



Sir, 



I RECEIVED your letter announcing the liberation of 

 my countrymen, as well as the accompanying obligation 

 and certificate, and shall immediately transmit copies of 

 the letter to the British government. I beg you will do 

 me the honour to accept my sincere thanks for your 

 attention to my request, and remain, with sentiments of 

 respect and consideration, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 

 (Signed) JAMES HILLYAR. 



David Porter, Esq, <^c, (^c. 



About this time, I thought it adviseable to know the 

 saihng of my ship, and that of the enemy. I therefore 

 chose a favourable opportunity, when the British vessels 

 were to leeward, and unable to cut me off, to get under 

 way, and let them chase me. I soon ascertained that the 

 Essex had greatly the advantage, and consequently be- 

 lieved I could, at almost any time, make my escape from 

 them. I did not like, however, to abandon the hope of 

 bringing the Phoebe to action ; and notwithstanding my 

 own impatience to depart, I determined to keep it under 

 control, while I endeavoured to provoke my adversary to 

 combat. 



VOL. II. 20 



