The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-16

proper u state &c his government that the ac.
con only lasted Is minutes should he have
cone so, the motive may he easily discovered
cut tile thousands Of osinterested witnesses
VINO covered the surrounding hills, Can testify
that We fought his ships near two hours and a
nan upwards OF fifty br, e,Sitcs were fired
oy the enemy agreeable tn their own accounts,
and upwards ct s"venty-fve by ours; cHc;.pt
ele lew minutes they were repairing damages,
the hiring WAS iucesSant.
Soon after my capture, entered into an a
green,ent with Com. Hillyar to tlisarn, nv
pii2e' the Essex Junior, ana proceed with the
survivors OF my othcerS and crew in her tn
inc - 9tateS, t@king With me all her officers
and c:ev. Ee c0Hscrtcti TO grant her a pass
port to secure her from reeapture The snip
was small a,,aMe Knew we'had much to SUI
Ter, yet we hoped soon to reach our country
III safety ltll;it we might "a gain have.it in our
power tcseIve it. This arr;mgemei.tfssas at
tcnaed with 70 additional eXpcncc, rs sheswas
abmdantly provided with provisions art. 1.etrs
for the Ncj'agc.
In justice to Commodore Hillvar, mrs,
observe, that, (althoagh can never be recon-
Ciied to the manner OF his attack ca, the. Es-
sex, OF To his conduct before the actiop.) h,,
mas, since orr capture, shewn the greatest hu-
manly to my wounded (whom he permitted
me to land, on condition that the United States
should bear their expresses and has cnCeav-
ored as much as lay i'll his power to alleviate.
the distreSScs of war by the NEST yenevcus
and delicate department towards urvsclf, nv
ohicers and crew he gave orders that tbe.
property OF every person Should be respected
Ills ORDERS, however, wcre not SO strictly at
tended to as might have been c,zpected he.
SIDES being deprived of books, charts, &c. SC
both myselfan officers lost MANY articles of
our Clothing, some to a considerable amount
should not have considered this last c;,.c,,o,-
nf Srrfl INN l.
i not mark striking difference between the:
Navy OF q. Britain, and that Of the L. States,
highly credirabic to tue latter
BY the arrival ofthe Tagus, few tla,., af
ter my capture, ] was informed that besides
the ships which had arrived in the Pacific in
pursuit of ME, and those still expected, others
were sent to cruise for me in the China Seas.
off New-Zealand, Timer and Ncw-fIolIand.
and that another hiSate was sent to the River
In Plata.
Iopossess the Essex it has cost the british
Government near six millions of dollars, ant:
yet, SIT, her capture WAS owing entirely to az
cident; and II we considerable experition with
winch naval contests are row dccitlc,i, the ac-
ton is dishonor to them. Had thev brouph.
their ships boldly into action, with a force Sc
very superior, and having the choice of q no
sitioI1, they should either have captured or de-
stroyed US IN one-toiTth tie time they were s.
bout it.
During the action, our Consul General. Mr..
Foinsctt, called on the Governor of Nalpai.j,
50, and requested that the batteries might pro-
tect the Essex. This request was refused:
but he promised that if she should succeed in
lighting her way to the common ANCHORAGE.
he would send ali officer to the British Com
m2nder and request him to cease firing, but
Declined using force under any circumstances,
ana there is no doubt perfect UNDERSTANDING
EXISTED between them: this conduct added
to the assistance given to the British, and their
friendly reception. after the action, ard the
strong bias OF the faction, which govern Chilli
in fsNor OF the English, well as their hosti-.
htY. TO the Americans induced Mr. Popss.tt TO
leave that country. Under such circumstan-
ces, did not conceive it would be prorer fer
me to claim .he restoration of my shin con-
hdent that the claim would be made by NV
Government to more effect. Finding some
difficulty in the sale Of my prizes, had taken
the Hector and Catherine 70 sea x burnt them
with their CaTgocS.
exchanged Lieut.. Midnight, Mr. Adams.
and Mr.. Lyman and eleven Seaman for mart
of the crew of the Sir Andrew Hammond. aud
sailed from VALPARAISO on the eth April.
where the enemy were still patching up their
shlpS to put them in state for proceeding
land
Annexed is lisS of the remains of my crew
W NC SAChiil5ed as also copy OF the corres-
pondence between Com. Hiliyar and myself
On that subject l also send YOU a list of the
prisoners have taken during my ciuize, a.
mounting to 343
have the honor to be, &c.
-, ID. PORTER
The Hon. Secretary Of the NAVY
Of the q. S. Washington
20 10 give yotI a correct idea Ct he
state OF the Essex at the time of her SUI zen
der, send you the Boatswain's and CarDen-
ter's report Of damages l also send YOU a
report of the divisions
ErfTact eta letter. from CON- LlRuar Ia me.
PhGbe, April 4th, 1914
Ny DEAR SfR-Neithel in our conver-
Sations nor III the accompanying letter have
mentioned your sword Ascribe nv remiss-
ness III the first instance to forgetfulness 1
considerit only in my servants possession with
my own, until the master may please to call
fort and although omitted, at the moment
OF pres entation, from my mind being much en-
crossed in attending to professional duties, to
oher ITS restoration, the hand that received
VIII be most gladly extended, to put it in,
possession OF him who wore it so honorably in
defending his country cause.
believe me, my dear sir, very faithfully,
yours. -.
(Signcd) GAMES HTLIYAR
Captain PORTER"