Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-20

her officers and crew to the Atlantic, and
mounted on her 20 guns, with complement
OF oO men, and appointed Midshipman Rich.
Dashieli, acting sailing master on board her:
to tins vessel gave the name of Essex Ju.
NOR. also fitted up the ship Greenwich as
store ship, and mounted on her 90 guns.
placing her under the command of I.ieu,e,
naut Gamble, OF the marines. On board
her have put all the provisions and stores
OF my other prizes, except a supply ofthrec
and half months for each, and have bv this.
means secured myself full supply of every.
necessary article for seven months. had
hoped to dispose OF my other prizes at GUS.
quil; the Governors in Peru, however. are
excessively alarmed at my appearance ON
the coast, as my fleet amounts now to nine
sail ofvessels all formidable in their appear-
ance, and they would if they dare, treat us
with hostility little short of declared enc
mics.
have given to Mr. John .. CowelI, sail
ing master, an appointment to act ~ Sd Lieut..
Maids. John :, ,Cowap%o act 4th Lieut. and
Mos. Odenheimer, as sailing master. Ibeg,
s'', that the appointment of those officers. as
we'll as OF Lieat. S. ID. Mcknight, who is ..,;r-
ing second Lieutenant, and those serving
on BOARD the Essex Junior, may be confirm
y ~ - PoitbCut. Il nave gwen TO MI.
vi. w. bostwick, my clerk, the appointment
Of Acting Midshipman; not that he is de-
slrous of coming forward in the Navy in that
line, but hoped by this means to introduce
him 70 the notice of the Department /; as
snaii take the liberty to recommend hin
strongly as suiible person to hold the an.
pontment OF purser. Drs. Richard r. Hoif
man aud Alexander n. Montgomery tw
gentlemen OF great m. rit, who volunteered
sheir services with me at the Commence
inent OF hostties, have received acting an.
pointments from me, the first as Surgeon. to
MI the vacancy occasoned by the death OF
Or. Miller; the Other as Surgeons Mate.
10 the great care and attention of those
gentlemen, may in n considerable degree.
oe attributed the extraordinary health of the
crew and as they are both DESTROYS ofioin.
ing ne Navy, hope their appointments
'n.y be confirmed.
have also appointed my Marine officer
and Chaplain to the command of prizes:
they ali enter with much cheerfulaess, into
helr new duties; and if the expedition
should prove successful, il will not be, am
persuaded, owing to our want of activity o..
vigilance; and OF this you must be satisfied
as for the last eight months we have been
constantly at sea, with the execution of %
da}s and vet, sir, we have eaioved extra~
ordinary health and spirits no symptom of
the scurvy having yet appeared in the shin.
nor nave we, at this moment, more than two
IN the sick list and their diseases are more
owing to the lntirmtes of age than any othr
err cause. Indeed, sir, when ! comoare NV
crescent situation with what it was when
doubled Cape Horn, cannot but esteem
myself fortunate in an extraordinary degree.
mere my ship WIS shattered by te:npestu..
GUS weather, and destitute of every thing:
ny o:hcers and crew half starved, naked.
tno worn out with fatigue. Now; sir nv
SNIP IS IN priqe order, abundantly supplied
gln.eNe.y t6lnS necessary for her. have
noble ship for consort of 20 guns and
'gellmanned, store ship of 90 guns well
'npplied with the best Of every thing tbas
re may want, and prizes which would be
worth m England two millions of dollars
and what renders the comparison more.
blessing, the Enemy has furnished all. Ex~
cuse. me, SIR, for not making known nv pre-
sent Intentions. as this letter NAV rot reach
you. lt, however, may be satisfactory "a,
on to know how intend to dispose of nv
prizes: Lett suffice to say that shall ms.
deavor to lcypher.l
British letters Of marque are numerous in these
seas, aud, we're it not for my arrival. our wboIe.
hshers would have heen much harrassed but thew
To-
protection. expect 10 be Ccypher1, but shall be
Lcypherl
subjoined is list Of deaths since left the Uni
TED states and beg you viii relieve tile anxiety
ot my family and all our friends by commuuica
ling as much ofthis letter as you may think pro-
per ~
The times Of my bast men have expired but
her attachment to the ship and their zeal for the
service we are engaged on, prevent n complaint,
on That account. 1t is not probable that YOU will
hear OF me for several months to come, unless
some disaster happens, but beg leave to assure
you. sir, that shall not be idle and hone before
my return to make the services efthe Essex as i'm
portapt as those OF any other single ship We NAV
not be Individually benefited, but we shall do the
enemy much injury, which viii be a snf;cient
compensation to us for all the hardshps and priva-
tons We must naturally experience, while cut off
from all communication with the rest of the world,
and are dependent on the precaious supplies the
enemy may afford.
have the honor to be,
With great respect,
NCur Ohf ssr.v,t