216 
PORTER'S JOURNAL. 
be the English ship Charlton, of 10 guns, the captain of which in¬ 
formed me, that the ship now to windward was the Seringapatam, 
of 14 guns and 40 men, commanded by William Stavers, and that 
the other was the New Zealander, of 8 guns. 
Notwithstanding the great interest I felt for the critical situa¬ 
tion of my prizes, as well as that which every officer must feel 
when in pursuit of an enemy, I could not help remarking the ope- 
rations of nature on the south side of Narborough and on the 
southern part of Albemarle. Narborough appeared to have un¬ 
dergone great changes since our last visit, by the violent irrup¬ 
tions of its volcanoes, and at this time there were no less than four 
craters in operation on that island, and one on the south part of 
Albemarle. And I should have before mentioned, that a few hours 
after leaving Charles 5 Island, a volcano burst out with great fu¬ 
ry from its centre, which would naturally lead to the belief of a 
submarine communication between them. 
Perceiving that the New Zealander had hove about to stand 
toward us, I was impressed with a belief that they had got over 
their alarm ; but, from the manoeuvres of the other ship, I was 
persuaded that he supposed us an enemy, therefore determined to 
use every effort to take her first. The Greenwich continued to 
run down for him, while the Georgiana ran for the Essex. I 
soon threw a crew on board the Charlton, and gave chace. Se¬ 
veral broadsides were exchanged between the Greenwich and the 
Seringapatam, when the latter hauled down her colours, but en¬ 
deavoured to make her escape in a crippled state, having her sails 
and rigging much cut. The Greenwich kept up the pursuit 
close on her quarter ; the Essex was coming up with her fast; 
when, in the dusk of the evening, seeing no possibility of escape, 
the enemy bore up for the Essex, and surrendered his ship. I 
immediately took the captain and officers from her, left the Green¬ 
wich to take care of her, and pursued the other ship, which I cap¬ 
tured in about an hour afterwards. 
It proved to be the Seringapatam which had taken the letters, 
wood, kegs, &c. from Charles 5 Island. The capture of this ship 
gave me more pleasure than that of any other which fell into my 
hands; for, besides being the finest British ship in those seas, her 
