PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
25S 
The Chilians showed to lieut. Downes the same friendly dis¬ 
position which I had formerly experienced, and every facility was 
offered to him in procuring his supplies, as well as those wanting 
for the Essex. He met with some delays in consequence of the 
stagnation of commerce, but every assistance that the government 
could give him was afforded. 
The only British whale-ship we could hear of on the coast was 
the Comet, a letter of marque of 20 guns ; her guns had been ta- 
#en from her by the government of Chili, in consequence of her 
having taken an active part in favour of the Peruvians; she was 
therefore laid up at Conception. She and the aforesaid ship at Val¬ 
paraiso bound to India, and the English brig which I found there 
on my arrival, were the only British vessels that I could hear of 
on the coast of Chili and Peru ; and as I believed it highly proba¬ 
ble, that the ship bound to India would touch at the Marquesas on 
her way thence, I thought it likely, that, by a speedy arrival there, 
I should be enabled to catch her. There was none of the news I 
had received which could induce me to alter my original plan of 
going to the Marquesas; the repairs and smoking of my ship 
were paramount to every other consideration, and I knew of no 
place where I could be more likely to do it undisturbed. 
The morning after the arrival of the Essex Junior, I hauled 
her alongside of the Essex, and took from on board her a quantity 
of rum and other articles ; and now having nothing to detain us 
but a head wind, we made every preparation for getting under 
way, which we were not enabled to do until the afternoon of the 
2d of October, when a light land breeze sprang up, which we 
took advantage of to get out of the harbour ; and as it soon after 
shifted to the southward, we were the greater part of tire succeed¬ 
ing night in beating through the sound (which I call Deqatur’s 
Sound) into the south or Elizabeth Bay. 
Prior to leaving the cove, Rynard wrote a penitent letter to 
me, begging me to overlook his conduct, and reinstate him on 
board the Essex ; this however I would not consent to ; but on 
his request, as well as that of lieutenant Downes, I agreed that 
fre should join the Essex Junior in the capacity of seaman, on his 
