226 



porter's journal. 



On the 15th, shortly after the frigates and sloop had come 

 to anchor, the Cherub got under way, and at noon, having 

 received the Captain with Mr. Romenes and his family on 

 board, she commenced sailing to and fro across the Bay for 

 ~ their amusement. At 5, P. M. she again anchored, and Mrs. 

 Romenes with her companions, after saluting Lt. Gamble 

 in the most affectionate manner, took leave of the ship. 

 The Captain announced, the next day, his intention of waiting 

 for the Raccoon, which it was supposed would probably de- 

 tain them a week longer; but on the 18th, at 2. P. M. a 

 signal was made for the prizes to weigh anchor, and at 6 

 the Cherub followed out of the Bay. 



During their stay at Valparaiso no rain had fallen, and the 

 weather daily became more mild and pleasant. Potatoes, 

 cabbage, and sallad were the only vegetables they could 

 procure, and there was no fruit to be had excepting oranges* 

 The Iroubied state of their country very probably prevented 

 the Chilians from paying that attention to the culture of 

 their gardens, which under more favourable circumstances 

 they would not have neglected to bestow upon them. 



My readers perhaps will be pleased at my indulging them 

 m t?iis place, with Lt. Gamble's account of a comic adven- 

 ture, which occurred on board the Cherub, a few days 

 previous to her departure from Valparaiso Bay. Her Captain 

 (now called Mr. Garrick) assembled his crew upon the 

 quarter deck, and addressed them " in a very refined and 

 eloquent speech." He stated that England was now at 

 peace with all the world, America being too contemptible to 

 be considered as an enemy. That king George intended to 

 flog the Yankees as a schoolmaster would flog his scholars ; 

 (here the sailors laughed) and that the States would soon 

 again be brought under their legitimate king, &:c. &c. 



During the passage to Rio de Janeiro, whither the Cherub 

 and her two prizes were now bound, no event of great 

 interest occurred. In approaching Cape Horn, the thermo- 

 meter fell gradually from 58^ to 36°, and the weather became 

 tempestuous with frequent storms of hail and rain. In lat, 

 56°. 15\ south, long. 73". 49' west, the sun rose a little 

 before 4. A. M. and set at 8 P. M. ; so that the day consisted 

 at l6ast of 1 8 hours. November 7th the island of Diego Ra- 

 mirez in sight, bearing N. E. distant about 25 miles, a number 

 of Gape pigeons came flying around the ship, and the albatross, 



