178 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
May 20th, 1813. 
Sir, 
I sail from this place to-morrow, and shall shape my coursb 
for Tumbez. Mr. Adams has surveyed the large island, but it 
affords no fresh water, nor good shelter; I have succeeded in 
getting 2000 gallons here, which perhaps will enable me to cruize 
a short time before going in. A ship was seen last night by Mr. 
Adams, on his return; he passed not more than a mile from her; 
she was bound down to the Bay or James’ Island, and, from the 
description he gives of her, there is scarcely a doubt of its being 
the Charlton, mounting ten guns. The prizes are a great incum¬ 
brance to me. I feel much confidence in your success, and am 
anxious to meet as soon as circumstances will admit. It is not 
improbable that I shall look again into the bay before leaving the. 
islands. With much respect and esteem, 
Your obedient servant, 
(Signed) D. PORTER. 
Lieutenant John Downes. 
And in the box I put the following note : 
Will sail from here to-morrow, the Montezuma, Baxter, and 
Policy, Bowman, on a whale cruize. At the foot of this will be 1 
found, the quantity of oil each ship has on board. S. X. 
Montezuma, 1300 bbls. sperm oil; 20 ditto black fish. 
Policy, 1500 bbls. sperm oil; 25 ditto ditto. 
Plenty of turpin at the Springs, and some at Pat’s landing. 
On the 23d, I tacked to the eastward, and on the 24th disco¬ 
vered Hood’s Island, bearing N.W., distant ten leagues ; and, as 
we now had a good breeze from the southward, I determined to 
look in there, with the hope of meeting one of the enemy’s ves¬ 
sels, and consequently bore away, with the vessels in company; 
but, toward evening, the wind grew light and baffling, and a strong 
current setting directly on the S.E. point of the island, we had 
great difficulty in preventing our ships from being drifted on shore, 
even after we had succeeded in getting them on the other tack. 
