PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
16© 
might protect the Essex. This request was refused, but he pro 
mised that if she should succeed in fighting her way to the com* 
mon anchorage, he would send an officer to the British command” 
er, and request him to cease firing, but declined using force un¬ 
der any circumstances; and there is no doubt a perfect under¬ 
standing existed between them: this conduct, added to the assis¬ 
tance given to the British, and their friendly reception after the 
action, and the strong bias of the faction which govern Chili in 
favour of the English, as well as their hostility to the Americans, 
induced Mr. Poinsett to leave that country. Under such cir¬ 
cumstances, I did not conceive it would be proper for me to claim 
the restoration of my ship, confident that the claim would be made 
by my government to more effect. Finding some difficulty in 
the sale of my prizes, I had taken the Hector and Catharine to 
sea, and burnt them with their cargoes. 
I exchanged lieutenant M c Knight, Mr Adams, and Mr. Ly¬ 
man, and eleven seamen, for part of the crew of the Sir Andrew 
Hammond, and sailed from Valparaiso on the 27th April, where, 
the enemy were still patching up their ships to put them in a state* 
for proceeding to Rio de Janeiro, previous to going to England. 
Annexed is a list of the remains of my crew to be exchanged, 
as also a copy of the correspondence between commodore Hillyar 
and myself on that subject. I also send you a list of the prisoners 
I have taken during my cruize,, amounting to three hundred and 
forty-three. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) D. Porter. 
The honourable secretary of the navy 
of the U. S. Washington. 
P. S. To give you a correct idea of the state of the Essex 
at the time of her surrender, I send you the boatswain’s and car¬ 
penter’s report of damages; I also send you a report of the divi¬ 
sions. 
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COMMODORE HILLYAR TO ME. 
Phoebe^ April Skth, 1814. 
« My dear sir, 
e Neither in our conversations nor in the accompanying let¬ 
ter, have I mentioned your sword. Ascribe my remissness imthe 
