PORTER'S JOURNAL. 
31.1 
as she was very warlike in her appearance he had made every 
preparation for action, supposing her at first to be a Spanish sloop 
of war. His crew at this time only amounted to twenty men and 
boys, the rest being on board his two prizes, the Catharine and 
Rose, while his prisoners amounted to upwards of 50, the most of 
whom he had confined in irons, to prevent their carrying into exe¬ 
cution a plan that had been laid for taking his vessel from him. 
They all, however, volunteered their services to attack the sup¬ 
posed Spaniard; but lieutenant Downes very prudently consider¬ 
ed, that, as he now had them in security, he had better keep them 
so, as they might not be disposed to return to their irons after 
being placed at liberty, with arms in their possession; he conse¬ 
quently declined accepting their offers, and trusted to the bravery 
and exertions of his own men for the success of the Attack. 
When he had got within hail of the Hector, and ascertained 
chat she was a British ship, he summoned her to surrender; to 
which he received no reply, but heard her captain give directions 
for the guns to be cleared away. Lie now fired a shot, which en¬ 
tered her stern, and did considerable damage, when the captain of 
the Hector gave orders for making sail, and, on being asked if he 
intended to surrender, answered, No, no. Lieutenant Downes now 
opened his fire on the enemy, and after firing five broadsides, 
which killed two men and wounded six others dangerously, shot 
away her main topmast, and most of her standing and running 
rigging, and rendered the ship a wreck, she struck to the Georgi- 
ana. After lieutenant Downes had put a prize crew on board the 
Hector, his own crew amounted to only ten in number, while his 
prisoners amounted to seventy-five ; it became therefore necessary 
tjo get clear of them as soon as possible; and as the Rose proved 
to be a very dull sailing vessel, and had occasioned him considera¬ 
ble delay, he caused all her guns, and most of her cargo, which 
consisted of spermaceti oil, to be thrown overboard, and gave the 
ship up to her captain, on condition that he would proceed to St.. 
Helena with all the prisoners, who entered into an obligation not 
to serve against the United States unless regularly exchanged. 
He gave to the captain of the Rose a passport for St. Helena, 
with an asturance, if he attempted to go elsewhere, and should 
