PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
151 
twenty-two guns, and a store ship of twenty guns, for the express 
purpose of seeking the Essex, and were prepared with flags bear¬ 
ing the motto, “ God and country; British sailors’ best rights; 
traitors offend both.” This was intended as a reply to my motto, 
« Free trade and sailors ’ rights ,” under the erroneous impression 
that my crew were chiefly Englishmen, or to counteract its effect 
on their own crews.—The force of the Essex was forty-six guns, 
forty thirty-two pound carronades, and six long twelves, and her 
crew, which had been much reduced by prizes, amounted only to 
two hundred and fifty-five men. The Essex Junior, which was 
intended chiefly as a store ship, mounted twenty guns, ten eigh 
teen pound carronades, and ten short six’s, with only sixty men on 
board. In reply to their motto, I wrote at my mizen— u God , our 
Country , and Liberty; tyrants offend them.” 
On getting their provisions on board, they went off the port 
for the purpose of blockading me, where they cruised for near 
six weeks; during which time I endeavoured to provoke a chal¬ 
lenge, and frequently, but ineffectually, to bring the Phoebe alone 
to action, first with both my ships, and afterwards with my single 
ship, with both crews on board. I was several times under way, 
and ascertained that I had greatly the advantage in point of sail¬ 
ing, and once succeeded in closing within gun shot of the Phoebe, 
and commenced a fire on her, when she ran down for the Cherub, 
which was two and a half miles to leeward; this excited some sur¬ 
prise and expressions of indignation, as previous to my getting 
under way, she hove too off the port, hoisted her motto flag and 
fired a gun to windward. Commodore Hillyar seemed determin¬ 
ed to avoid a contest with me on nearly equal terms, and from his ex¬ 
treme prudence in keeping both his ships ever after constantly 
within hail of each other, there were no hopes of any advantages 
to my country from a longer stay in port. I therefore determin¬ 
ed to put to sea the first opportunity which should offer; and I 
was the more strongly induced to do so, as I had gained certain 
intelligence that the Tagus, rated thirty-eight, and two other fri¬ 
gates, had sailed for that sea in pursuit of me; and I had reason 
to expect the arrival of the Racoon from the N. W. coast of 
America, where she had been sent for the purpose of destroying 
our fur establishment on the Columbia A rendezvous was z p- 
