IM PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
we were induced to believe her the Nimrod, from the description 
we had received of that vessel I therefore took a position to 
prevent her passing the point, when she hauled her wind to go 
between the island and main, where there is a passage for ships 
of large burthen, but shortly afterwards bore up, under a press of 
sail, to run by us, and on his near approach I perceived it to be 
one of the Spanish vessels that had sailed from Valparaiso before 
us. I felt satisfied that we had so altered the vessel, that they 
could not know us ; besides, how was it possible that they could 
expect to find the Essex off Calao, when they left her at Val¬ 
paraiso, beginning to take in provisions and water ? On her get¬ 
ting into the calms under the lee of the island, I dispatched a 
boat to get the news from her, but recalled her on seeing the 
guard-boat go on board. I now sent for the captain of the Bar¬ 
clay (Randall), informed him he was at liberty to act as he thought 
proper with respect to his ship, and that, although his crew had 
entered with me, they were at liberty to return to the Barclay, if 
they were disposed to do so; but as they expressed their deter¬ 
mination not to return to that ship, the captain informed me he 
was entirely at a loss what course to pursue, and asked my ad¬ 
vice. I at the moment felt as much embarrassment as he ; for 
he was without hands, except two or three who were down with 
the scurvy, having been constantly at sea for seven months with¬ 
out refreshments. No port on the coast of Peru could afford 
him a shelter, as our destruction of the armament of the Nereyda, 
in consequence of the capture of the Barclay, would render the 
condemnation'of that vessel highly probable, if she should again 
be in the power of the Peruvians ; and even if the remainder of 
his crew were all healthy, they would not be strong enough to 
take her to Valparaiso, or any other port of Chili, even if there 
was nothing to be apprehended from capture by British and Peru¬ 
vian vessels. I however concluded to give him all the protection 
in my power, and advised him to remain by me, offering to put 
on board hands enough to work his vessel, and promised not to 
leave him until I had put him in a place of safety. With this 
promise he appeared much pleased, and offered his services to 
me in any way he could prove useful, giving me assurances that 
