The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-12-21

have by this means secured myself full
supply of every. necessary article for sever
months. had hoped to dispose of my o.he,
prizes at Guaquili the governors i'll seru
however are eXc essiveIy alarmed at nv sp-
pearance on the coast, as my feet am Gun, :
lnow TO nine sail IT vessels, all formidable in
heir appearance, and they would, il they
dare. treat us with hostility little short OF
declared enemies.
! have given to MIR. John Q. Cowell. sail
| ing master, an appointment to act Sd Lieut.
Maids. john 5. Cowan to act 4th Lieut.. and
Aids. Odenheimer. as sailing master. Ibep,
sir, that the appointment of those officers, as
we'll as of Lieui. s. ID. Mcknight, who is act
| log second lieutenant, and those serving ON
board the Essex Junior, may: be confirmed
by the Department have given to Mr..
M. w. Bostwick, my che. k, the appoint
ment of Acting Midshipman not that he is
des'rnus ct Coming frward in the Navy in
that line. but hoped by this mans to nitro
duce him tp the notice Of the Department :
as shall take the liberty to,recumnenl him
| strongly as az a suitable person to hold the
] appointments of pnrser. Dvs. Richard r
Hoffman and Alexander NJ. Montgomery /;
two gentlemen of great merit, who voluD-
teered their services with me at the COM
rnencement of hostilities, haye received &C
Ing oEppN'lNtulS lTOhi Stic, me IlfSt as sur
geN;i, to Fill the vacancy occasioned BY the
death OF DR.. Miller the other as Surgeons
| Mate. 10 the great care and attention of
those gentlemen. may IN considerable de-
gree, be attributed the extraordinary health
ct the crew; and as they are both desirous
r, OF joining the Navv, hope their appoint
ments NAV be confirmed.
! ihave also appointed nv Marine officer
and Chaplain to the command OF prizes -
they al enter with much cheerfuiness into
their new duties ard if The expedition
shonlh prove unsuccessful, it will not be, am
persuaded, owing to orr want OF ACTIVITY or
vigilance and OF this you must be satisfied
as for the last eight noeths we have been
constantly at sea, with the exception of %
DAYS, and vet, sir, we have enjoyed extraor-
binary health and spirits no symptom Of
the scurvy having vet appeared in the ship,
Tor nave we, at This moment, more than two
on the SICK list ; and ;heir diseases are more
owing to the inhmites Of age than any 9th.
er cause. Indeed, sir, y hen comDare nv
present situation with what il was when +
doubled Cape Horn, 1 cannot hut esteem
myself fortunate n an extraordinary degree,
here my ship was shattered by tempestn
Gus Gather, and destitute of every thing
my officers AID crew half starved, naked,
aud worn out with fatigue. Now, sir, nv
Il
ed with every thing necessary for her.
have noble ship for cunsort of 20 Guns &
well manned. store ship of 90 guns well
supplied with the best of every thing that
we may want, and prizes which would be
worth IN England two millions Of dollars
and what renders the comparison mere plea
sing, the Energy has furnished all. Excuse
me, sir, for mt making known INV present
intentions, as this letter NAV not reach you.
III, however, my he SAT- sfaCrury 20 YOU 10
know how intend to dispose of nv prizes ::
Let it suffice to say that shall endeayor to
Ccypher.]
British letters of rnarque are numerous in
these seas, and. were it not for my arrival,
our whale fishers would have been much
harrassed; but they now find it neces ary
- keep together for mutual projection. /
expect 20 be (cypher), but shall be (cy-
pher.)
Subjoined. is a list of deaths sinc6 left
the United States; and | beg Won will re-
! leve the anxiety of my family, and all our
friends, by communicating as much of this
letter as you may think prefer.
| he times OF my best men have expired :.
OUT 'heir attachment TO the ship, and heir
zeal tor the service we are engaged on. pre-
vent all complaints OH that account. II is
net probable that you will hear OF me for
several months 10 come, unless some disas.
ter happens. but beg leave to assure Won.
SIR, that shall not be idle and hope be-
tore my rsturn, to make the services Of the
Essex as important as those CT any other
SINCE ship We may not be iraividuallv
benefited, but We shall do the enemy much
injury, which will be sufficient comDensa-
ton to US for all the hardships and private
ons we must naturally experience, while cut
oil from all coUmunica ion with the rest Of
the world, and are dependent on The preca-
rious supplies he enemy aay afford.
Ihave the honor to be,
With great respect,
Your ob't. servant,
: d. PORTER,