PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
8/ 
shock ; and I took this opportunity of advancing them one grade^ 
by filling up the vacancies occasioned by those sent in prizes, and 
those who were left at St. Catharines; rebuking, at the same 
time, the others for their timidity. 
And now we began to believe, that the elements had ex¬ 
hausted all their rage on us, for the sky became serene, and we 
were enabled to make sail; the wind shifted to the S.W., and 
brought with it the only pleasant weather we had experienced 
since we had passed the Falkland Islands : but here again we were 
deceived, for, before night, it began to blow in heavy squalls, 
with cold rain, and reduced us to close-reefed fore and main top¬ 
sails, and reefed fore-sail; but, as the wind was fair, we consoled 
ourselves with the pleasing reflection, that we were every mo¬ 
ment receding farther from the influence of the dreary and in¬ 
hospitable climate of Cape Horn ; and, on the 5th of the month, 
having passed the parallel of Chili, our sufferings appeared at an 
end, for we enjoyed pleasant and temperate weather, with fine 
breezes from the southward ; and, for the first time during our 
passage, were enabled to knock out our dead-lights, and open our 
gun-deck ports. The repairs of our damages went on rapidly, 
and by night the ship was, in every respect, excepting wear and 
tear, as well prepared for active service, as the day we left St 
Catharines. Our latitude, at meridian, w r as 39° 20' S. ; and we had 
a distant view of part of the Andes, which appeared covered with 
snow. Albatrosses were as usual about the ship ; several fish, by- 
sailors denominated sun-fish, were seen ; and we frequently passed 
a white and apparently gelatinous substance, which we had not 
an opportunity of examining. There was every prospect of a 
speedy arrival in some port on the coast of Chili, and I directed 
the cables to be bent, using every means in our power to guard 
them from the effects of rocky bottom. 
The health of the crew was better than when I left the Unit¬ 
ed States, and not the slightest appearance of scurvy in the ship. 
The surgeon’s report of this day, was as follows : 
John Linghan, seaman. Contused hand 
Adam Roach, quarter-gunner, Contused wrist and arm 
Thomas Charlton, seaman, Contused shoulder and fool 
