CHAPTER l5£. 
James’s island ; port rendezvous. 
On the morning of the 4th, at 6 o’clock, we were between 
James’ Island and Albemarle, beating up the passage, which is 
about eighteen miles wide, to reach the harbour, which was now 
in sight, when the New Zealander, which was far to leeward, 
made a signal for a strange sail to the eastward ; but on chacing 
it proved to be a rock off the east part of James’ Island. This 1 
prevented our getting into the bay until half past two, when we 
came to an anchor in six fathoms water, within a quarter of a mile 
of the middle of the beach, over a soft sandy bottom, and moored with 
our bower-anchor to the southward, and the stream to the north¬ 
ward, the south-west part of Albany Island bearing north-west by 
north ; Cape Marshall, on Albemarle, north-west; and the west 
point of the bay south-west by south. I caused the prizes to moor 
ahead and astern of the Essex, in a line along the shore, so close 
as to prevent an enemy from passing inside of us in case of at¬ 
tack, and directed their commanders to keep them constantly pre¬ 
pared for defence. I caused the pinnace and cutters to be hoist¬ 
ed cut, rigged, and anchored in shore, to be in constant readiness 
for service, in the event of an enemy appearingoff, and, after every 
arrangement was made that could suggest itself to me for the 
safety of the ships, as well for offensive as defensive operations* 
I commenced making those little repairs, which every ship re¬ 
quires, in a greater or less degree, on going into port, after being 
some time at sea. I also filled up my water from the New Zea¬ 
lander, took on board such provisions and stores as were requi¬ 
site for us, and removed from the Seringapatam to that vessel all 
empty casks and other cumbrous articles, taking from her such 
provisions and stores as were not necessary for her, and might 
hereafter be wanted for us, and put them on board the Seringapa¬ 
tam. 1 also caused the Seringapatam to be painted exactly like the 
Essex, so that it would have been very difficult to have known 
