PORTER'S JOURNAL 
HG 
and children, all equally and perhaps more anxious than don Lewis 
to see the fight, and among them, as it afterwards proved, were 
our fair guests, who did not hesitate to declare their disappoint¬ 
ment, and frankly acknowledged, that a sight of a sea engagement 
would have v.-ci more charms for them, than all the entertainment 
we could have afforded them on board the ship. 
The wind continued light; and, the day being far advanced, 
I gave up all thoughts of returning to port that night, and stopd 
off to sea, endeavouring to get to windward. Don Lewis* as well 
as his servants who accompanied him, soon becaic excessively 
sick ; and however warlike he might have felt when he first came 
on board, he was now as helpless as an infant. We succeeded, 
by the help of our drags, in getting to our anchors early next 
morning, and were more fortunate in finding the buoys we had put 
to our cables than I had expected. We, immediately on securing 
our ship, took on board the remainder of our supplies; and an in¬ 
vitation was brought for us to dine and spend the evening with the 
governor, who, we could perceive by the flags about the battery 
in front of his house, had made great preparations for the ocCa 
sion; and we were informed that the entertainment was given us? 
by the order and at the expence of the superior government of 
Chili. The company was seated in an extensive tent, handsomely 
and fancifully decorated with the flags of different nations, and 
the ground covered with rich carpets; the dinner was served up 
in silver plate, and, with the exception of the blades of the knives 
alone, no other metal or substance whatever was used for any part 
of the table furniture. The dinner consisted of at least twenty 
changes; and by the time the third course had been removed 
we had cause to regret that we had not reserved our appetites for 
some of the delicacies which we perceived were likely to succeed 
the substantial food of the first course, which we had begun upon 
with keen appetites, and were soon cioyed. The officers of the 
Portuguese ship, and some English merchants, were also at table ; 
but when the wine began to circulate, and the Chilian officers to 
feel the ardour of their patriotism, such flaming toasts were given, 
as to make them think it prudent for them to retire. 
