1 12 
PORTER’S JOURNAL, 
government had not permitted her to remain there, and that she 
had proceeded for St. Helena to take convoy for England After 
receiving this intelligence, I got under way and proceeded to sea, 
with a fresh breeze from the southward, steering N.W. to get an 
offing from the land. 
From my extreme occupation with my duty, and the rapidity 
©f the events which took place during the week I remained at 
Valparaiso, it could scarcely be supposed that I could have an 
opportunity of making many observations on the place, the man¬ 
ners and customs of the people, or the political state of the coun¬ 
try ; perhaps no week of my life was ever more actively employ¬ 
ed, both in labour and in pleasure ; and had not a strong desire 
of serving our country to the utmost overcome every other con¬ 
sideration, we should have left Valparaiso with much regret; but 
during our stay there two Spanish ships had sailed for Lima, and 
the certainty that they would give intelligence of us to the ene¬ 
my, made our speedy departure the more necessary, as it had 
always been my intention to visit that coast previous to my going 
to any other place ; for, from all accounts, the coast of Peru, and 
from there to the Gallipagos, is the favourite fishing-ground of the 
British whalers; from thence I intended proceeding to the latter 
place, and to endeavour to arrive at their general rendezvous at 
Albemarle island, before the British agent at Lima could have an 
opportunity of giving them intelligence of my arrival in this sea; 
for it seemed beyond a doubt that they would conjecture that my 
designs were not confined to the doubling Cape Horn merely for 
the pleasure of visiting Valparaiso. 
While we lay at Valparaiso, I established it as a general rule, 
that every person belonging to the ship should be on board at 
gun-fire, at 8 P. M., unless on some special occasion, when I 
should be on shore with them at a party. This rule was violated 
by the carpenter, under the most aggravating circumstances ; 
and, as he was a worthless fellow, I did not permit him to return 
on board the ship again. The gunner was detected in smuggling 
rum on board, contrary to the regulations of the ship; and, as he 
had conducted himself very improperly in other respects, I 
caused him to be confined in irons. Three Americans belonging 
