222 



porter's journal. 



a particular turn of mind, no better reason could offer for 

 punishing a fellow-creature, than a refusal to sacrifice to 

 their rapacity the honest gains of industry, under colour of 

 prize of war. 



Notwithstanding appearances were at first unfavourablcy 

 in the course of a day or two Captain Whittemore received 

 permission to go on shore, from the commander of the 

 Cherub, accompanied by the agreeable intelligence, that 

 this indulgence was owing entirely to the interference of 

 the Governor. Encouraged by this instance of lenity, 

 lieut. Gamble was induced to apply for a similar relaxation 

 in regard to his men, who had already been confined four 

 months on board the ship, upon short allowance; pledging 

 himself, at the same time, for their good behaviour, and 

 punctual return : but C»pt. Tucker stopped him short, with 

 a positive denial. Unfortunately for Captain Whittemore^ 

 be did not long enjoy the privilege of going ashore, for on 

 the fifth day after the granting of it, he, by some unavoida- 

 ble accident, was prevented from being on hoard preciseli/ 

 at sunset; and, as might have been expected, the indul- 

 gence was promptly countermanded. 



The whole town was thrown into a sudden alarm on the 

 night of the 1st of October, and the people generally took 

 lip arms, on account of some secret news which had just 

 been received from Santiago. On the day following, in- 

 telligence reached them, that the patriot general O'Hig- 

 gins, after gallantly defeating a superior force of the ene- 

 my, and dispersing them with great loss, had treacherously 

 surrendered his whole army to the Royalists ; who, in con- 

 sequence, were hourly expected to march into Santiago. 

 This disheartening news excited the greatest consternation 

 at Valparaiso; and, to add to the misfortunes of its inhabi- 

 tants, an order was received by the Governor from the 

 President of Chili, requiring him to spike all the cannon 

 in the forts — throw the shot into the sea — blow up the ma- 

 gazine — -set fire to the shipping — burn the town — and then 

 to repair as speedily as possible, with all his troops, to San- 

 tiago. An order like this could not fail to operate in the 

 most distressing manner, upon the citizens. The unhappy 

 women were driven almost to distraction, at seeing their 

 husbands torn from them perhaps for ever; and their ears 

 were incessantly stunned with the cries of misery from 



