222 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
As soon as the ship was out of danger, we began again to think 
of our chace ; and as we were not in the habit of readily giving up 
a pursuit, while it was probable the chase was an enemy, our un¬ 
common success having taught us to believe, that to see and to 
capture were one and the same thing. Although we had lost sight, 
of her, we still felt confident it would only be for a short time, 
and that she owed it solely to her having a fresh breeze, while we 
were becalmed ; an advantage we hoped to enjoy equally with her, 
so soon as wc should be enabled to pass the N.E. point of Albe¬ 
marle. I firmly believed that the stranger was a British whale- 
ship, and bound to James’ Island, and every advantage was taken 
of the light airs which prevailed all that day and the next night, 
to endeavour again to get sight of her ; and next morning, at half 
past 7 o’clock, she was discovered to the N.E. from the mast¬ 
head, standing on a wind towards us, and across our bows. At 
half past 9 she was directly to windward of us, distant about 7 
miles; and as she had discovered that we were a frigate, and no 
doubt had intelligence of our being in this quarter, she hoisted 
American colours, and made all sail from us. Every exertion 
was made to come up with her; she was evidently a whale-ship ; 
and from every appearance I had no doubt of her being English. 
The winds becanm light, inclinable to calm ; we made use of our 
drags, and found considerable advantage from the use of them ; 
but, from the constant labour requisite to work them, our people 
became very much harassed, and finally worn out with fatigue. 
We had, however, by the greatest exertions, approached within 
four miles of the chace, and were enabled, by the assistapee of our 
glasses, to see all his movements. He now got his boats ahead to 
tow his ship, with a view, as I supposed, of running her on shore 
on the Island of Abington, which was not far distant; and to pre¬ 
vent his effecting this object, I dispatched the gig and whale-boat, 
the first under command of lieut. M‘Knight, the other under Mr 
Bostwick, clerk, with a few good marksmen to drive them from 
their boats, but with the most positive orders to make no attempt 
on the ship. They soon succeeded in driving the boats alongside 
the ship, but found great difficulty in keeping out of the range of 
his shot, as he had mounted two guns on his forecastle, with which 
