PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
257 
250,000 dollars, which it is more than probable will prove a dead 
loss to them, as the United States have now no commerce in this 
part of the world for them to annoy ; and as they are reported to 
be dull sailers, it does not seem likely that they will succeed in 
their pursuit of the Essex, even if they should all keep together 
and fall in with her; and if they should cruize separately, they will 
have more to fear from our enterprize than we have to apprehend 
from theirs. 
Value of prizes taken by the Essex in the Pacific g 2,500,000 
Value of American whale-ships on the coast of 
Chili and Peru, which would in all probability 
have been captured had we not arrived 2,500,000 
Cost of equipping and employing for one year, 
one frigate, two sloops of war, and a store-ship 250,000 
g 5,250,000 
Expences of the Essex for one year 80,000 
Balance g 5,170,000 
It appears by this estimate, that the balance against the Bri¬ 
tish, occasioned by our coming into this sea, is 5,170,000 dollars ; 
for there cannot be a doubt that all our whale-ships would have 
been captured, had we not effectually prevented it by the capture 
of all of theirs. It is true that we have, as individuals, been as 
yet but little benefitted by our Captures; this consideration, how¬ 
ever, has had but little weight with us ; the object of the go¬ 
vernment is to injure the enemy; it derives no advantage from 
captures, however valuable they may prove; by our captures we 
have effected the object of government, and whether we sell or 
destroy them is of importance only to ourselves. 
And now I am about quitting the Gallapagos islands, per¬ 
haps for ever, and have shaped my course to the westward, let 
us compare our situation with that of lord Anson when he left 
the coast of Peru for China. I have already taken the liberty to 
touch on that subject at the time I passed the streights of Le 
Kk 
VOL. I. 
