PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
157 
conspicuous, returned on deck after his first wound, and remained 
after receiving his second until fainting with loss of blood.—Mr, 
Samuel B, Johnson, who had joined me the day before, and acted 
as marine officer, conducted himself with great bravery, and ex¬ 
erted himself in assisting at the long guns; the musketry after the 
first half hour being useless, from our great distance. 
Mr. M.'W. Bostwick, whom I had appointed acting purser 
of the Essex Junior, and who was on board my ship, did the du¬ 
ties of aid, in a manner which reflects on him the highest honour, 
and midshipmen Isaacs, Farragut, and Ogden, as well as acting 
midshipmen James Terry, James R. Lyman, and Samuel Duzen- 
bury, and master’s mate William Pierce, exerted themselves in 
the performance of their respective duties, and gave an earnest 
of their value to the service; the three first are too young to re¬ 
commend for promotion, the latter I beg leave to recommend for 
confirmation as well as the acting lieutenants, and Messrs. Barne- 
wall, Johnson, and Bostwick. 
We have been unfortunate, but not disgraced—the defence 
of the Essex has not been less honourable to her officers and crew, 
than the capture of an equal force; and I now consider my situation 
less unpleasant than that of commodore Hilyar, who, in violation 
of every principle of honour and generosity, and regardless of the 
rights of nations, attacked the Essex in her crippled state, within 
pistol shot of a neutral shore—when for six weeks I had daily of¬ 
fered him fair and honourable combat, on terms greatly to his 
advantage; the blood of the slain must be on his head, and he has 
yet to reconcile his conduct to heaven, to his conscience, and to 
the world.-—The annexed extract of a letter from commodore 1 
Hiilyar, which was written previously to his returning me my 
sword, will show his opinion of our conduct. 
My loss has been dreadfully severe, fifty-eight killed or have 
since died of-their wounds, and among them lieutenant Cowell; 
thirty-nine were severely wounded, twenty-seven slightly, and 
thirty-one are missing—making in all one hundred and fifty-four, 
killed, wounded, and missing, a list of whose names is annexed. 
The professional knowledge of Dr. Richard Hoffman, acting 
surgeon, and Dr. Alexander Montgomery, acting surgeon’s mate, 
added to their assiduity and the benevolent attentions and assist- 
