168 



porter's journal. 



difference of force will not prevent my accepting a chal- 

 lenge given by Captain Hillyar. 



The Phoebe and Cherub, ever after, kept close together, 

 and showed a determination of not risking an action, unless 

 they could both engage the Essex." 



(Signed) JOHN DOWNES. 



These are the most important circumstances which pre- 

 ceded the capture of the Essex, in the bay of Valparaiso ; 

 the particulars of which are related in the following letter 

 to the Secretary of the navy : 



copy OP A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN PORTER TO THE 

 SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 



Essex Junior, July 3d, 181 4, at sea. 



Sir, 



I have done myself the honour to address you, repeated- 

 ly, since I left the Delaware ; but have scarcely a hope 

 that one of my letters has reached you, and therefore, 

 consider it necessary to give you a brief history of my pro- 

 ceedings since that period. 



I sailed from the Delaware on the 27th of October, 1812, 

 and repaired, with all diligence, (agreeably to the instruc- 

 tions of Commodore Bainbridge,) to Port Praya, Fernan- 

 do de Noronho, and Cape Frio, arriving at each place on 

 the day appointed to meet him. On my passage from 

 Port Praya to Fernando de Noronho, I captured his Britan- 

 nic majesty's packet Nocton — and after taking out about 

 eleven thousand pounds sterhng in specie, sent her under 

 command of lieutenant Finch for America. I cruised off 

 Rio de Janeiro, and about Cape Frio, until the 12th Janu- 

 ary, 1813, hearing frequently of the Commodore by vessels 

 from Bahia. I here captured one schooner with hides 

 and tallow ; I sent her into Rio. The Montague, the ad- 

 miral's ship, being in pursuit of me, my provisions now 

 getting short, and finding it necessary to look out for a sup- 

 ply to enable me to meet the Commodore by the first of 

 April, off St. Helena, I proceeded to the island of St. 

 Catherine's, (the last place of rendezvous on the coast of 



