PORTER’S JOURNAL* 
179 
We made every exertion all night to keep to windward, but with ¬ 
out effect; for in the morning Gardner’s island bore west, about 
three leagues distant. Charles’ Island was plain in sight, and, to 
add to the mortification, the Montezuma (which we had discon¬ 
tinued towing during the night, on account of our own safety) was 
as far to leeward as we could see her. I found it was in vain to 
struggle against this eternal current with such dull saiiers, and 
saw no hopes of holding our own but at anchor; our want of wa¬ 
ter was very pressing, and I saw no prospect of getting into the 
continent to procure a supply; I therefore determined to bear 
away, look into the harbour of Charles’ Island, and proceed from 
thence to the island of Cocos, looking into Banks’ Bay in my way 
there. I had also some hopes of meeting the Georgiana, or hear¬ 
ing from her, at Charles’ island. I was the more strongly induced 
to bear away, as captain Randall informed me, the preceding 
evening, that he had discovered some of the garbage of whales 
floating on the surface of the water near Hood’s Island, a certain 
indication of whalers having been lately there; and as I believed 
there were now a greater number about Albemarle than could 
be managed by lieutenant Downes, I thought it most advisable 
to proceed there, entertaining, at the same time, a hope, that by 
their capture we should be enabled to procure a supply of water. 
Shortly after we had bore away, with the Montezuma in tow, a 
signal was made from the Policy to speak with me. I felt a con¬ 
viction in my own mind, that it was caused by the death of that 
poor unhappy man, doctor Miller; and on the arrival of the boat 
along side, it proved to be the case; he had died a few minutes 
before the signal was made, and it was supposed that the danger 
we were in of going on shore the preceding night, as well as the 
disappointment occasioned by our not being able to get clear of 
the islands, tended greatly to hasten his death. I directed a cof¬ 
fin to be made for him, with an intention of burying him on one of 
the islands, if it should be in my power, and requested Mr. Shaw 
to go on board to make arrangements for his funeral. 
I now appointed doctor Hoffman acting surgeon of the Essex, 
with the pay and emoluments of surgeon. The indefatigable at¬ 
tention of this gentleman to the sick, merits the highest enco- 
