PORTER’S JOURNAL. 47 
change took place, I concluded on taking a position to intercept 
vessels from Rio, and consequently bore up to run a little to 
leeward of the harbour, when I hove to with three reefs in the 
top-sails, and mizen top-sail aback. 
For the two last days the ship has been surrounded with 
dolphins, of which we have succeeded in catching great numbers. 
On the morning of the 29th, the man at the mast-head descried 
a sail to windward, and on going into the main-top with my glass, 
perceived that she was a schooner, and standing in for the har¬ 
bour of Rio. Made all sail in chase to endeavour to cut her off, 
but did not succeed in bringing her to, until about 9 o’clock at; 
night, when, after firing several shot at her, she bore up and run 
under our lee. She proved to be the British schooner Elizabeth 
from Rio, bound to England, but had put back in consequence of 
having sprung a leak; after taking the prisoners out, we dis¬ 
covered that she had parted with a convoy of British vessels, un¬ 
der charge of the Juniper, a three-masted schooner, about half an 
hour before she was discovered by us. The prisoners stated, that 
the Juniper had sailed the night before from Rio, with six vessels 
in company, to wit: a cutter, 4 ships, and the Elizabeth; that the 
cutter had gone to the southward to convoy a ship to St. Sebas¬ 
tians, and that the Juniper had proceeded to the eastward with 
the three others, which were deep laden and dull-sailing ships. 
I also obtained certain intelligence, that the British admiral’s ship 
the Montague, was still at Rio Janeiro, with all her sails unbent; 
that a packet had sailed for England on Christmas day; and that 
there was no British vessfels there expected to sail shortly. Be¬ 
lieving that I should be enabled to overtake the convoy in a few 
days, by carrying a press of sail, I used every exertion to get 
clear of the schooner, and put midshipman Clarke, with six men 
of our crew, and three prisoners, on board her, with orders, leav¬ 
ing it discretionary with him, whether to go direct to North 
America or proceed to Rio Janeiro ; and in the event of his going 
to the latter place, I furnished him with the following letter, to 
be delivered to the American minister there: 
I 
