porter's jodrnal. 



157 



ensign, bearing the motto, " God and our country ; British 

 sailors' best rights ; traitors offend them and tired a gun 

 to windward. The sloop of war was about two and a half 

 miles to leeward. The Essex immediately got under way, 

 hoisted a flag bearing the motto, " God, our country, and 

 liberty; tyrants offend them;" and fired a gun to wind- 

 ward. The Phoebe hove to, until the Essex was within 

 gun-shot, when she bore up, and ran down for the 

 sloop. Two shot were fired across her bows, to bring her 

 to, but without effect. After chasing her as far as was pru- 

 dent, Captain Porter observed, that their conduct was cow- 

 ardly and dishonourable, and returned into port, where we 

 came to anchor. 



(Signed) 



John Downes, 

 Wm. Odenheim, 

 Edward Barnwell, 

 Richard K. Hoffman^ 

 John K. Shaw, 

 M. W. Bartowe, 

 Alexr. Montgomery,. 

 Geo. W. Isaacs, 

 S. L. Duzenbery. 



" On the leth of March, 1814, Lt. Ingraham, first of the 

 Phoebe, came on board the Essex, under a flag of truce, 

 having a letter from Commodore Hillyar to Captain Porter. 

 Lt. Ingraham informed Captain Porter, that Commodore 

 Hillyar had heard Captain P. had called him a coward, for 

 running away from the Essex, and begged to know if it 

 was the case. Captain Porter informed him that, con- 

 sidering the circumstance of the challenge, and the con- 

 duct of the Phoebe in bearing up, he believed any thing he 

 could have said on the occasion, justifiable. Lt. Ingraham 

 assured Captain Porter, that no challenge was intended, 

 and that the gun was fired by accident. Captain P. said, 

 he supposed it to be a challenge, at the time, and had ac- 

 cepted it ; and that he should accept another, if given by 

 the Phoebe ; observing, " it cannot be expected that I 

 would take upon myself the responsibility of challenging a 

 36 gun frigate, with a frigate of 32 guns ; as my country 

 would censure me, should I prove unsuccessful ; but the 



