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

protected. The valuable whale fishery there
is entirely destroyed, and the actual injury we
have done them may be estimated at two ami
half millions of dollars, independent of tic
expenses OF the vessels in search ofme. They
have furnished me amply with sails, eordage,
cables, anchors, provisions, medicines and
stores OF every description and the slops on
board them have furnished clothing for the
Seamen. We had in fact lived upon the enc
since had been in that sea, every prize
rowing well found store ship for me. | had
not yet been under the necessity of drawing
bills on the department for any object, and
| had been enabled to make considerable ativan-
ces to my officers and crew on account of pay
For the unexampled time we had kept the
sea, my crew had continued remarkably heal
thy had but one case of the scurvy, and
had lost only the following men by death, viz /:
John s. Cowan, Lieutenant,
Robert Miller, Surgeon,
Levi Holmes, .. Seaman,
Edward Sweeny, do.
Samuel Groce, Seaman,
lanes Spafford Gurncrs Mate,
J'dn,'t Rods ees''' s orGunners,
Andrew Mahan, Corporal of Marines,
Lewis Price, Private Marine.
had done all the injury that could be done
the British commerce in the Pacific, and still
| llOlC0 " UlN cruise DIV something
more splendid before leaving that sea. tho't
it not improbable that Commodore Hillvar
might have kept his arrival secret, and be-
lieving that he would seek me at Valparaiso.
as the most likely place to find me, | there
fore determined 10 cruise about that place, *
should fail of meeting him, hoped to be COM
pensatcd by the capture of some merchant
ships, said to be expected from England.
The FhGbe agreeably TO my expectations,
came to seek me at Valparaiso, where was
anchored with the Essex, my armed prize the
Essex Junior, under the command of Lieut.
Downes, on the look out off the harbor but.
contrary to the course I thought he would
pursue, Commodore Hillyar brought with him
the Cherub sloop of war, mounting % guns,
eighteen 50 pound carronades, eight 24's, and
two long 9'S on the quarter deck and forecas-
tie, and complement of $50 men. The force
Of the Phoebe is as follows thirty long 18
Founders, sixteen 50 pound carronades, one
howitzer, and three Founders in the tops,
IN all So guns, and complement of 500 men :;
making force of 81 guns and 500 men in
addition to which, they took on board the
crew OF an English letter of marque laying in
port Both ships had picked crews, and were
sent into the Pacific, in company with the
Eacoon OF p guns and store ship of 20 guns,
tor the express purpose of seeking the Essex,
and were prepared with flags bearing the
nletto, e" God and country British Sailors
best rights; Traitors offend both" This was
intended as a reply to my motto, Free
Trade and Sailors Rights" under the erro-
neous impression that my crew were chiefly
Eng1ishmcn, or to counterfeit its effect ON their
own crews. The force of the Essex was As
guns, forty 50 pound carronades, and six long
l2's, and her crew, which had been much re-
duced by prizes, amounted to only 955 men.
The Essex Junior, which was intended chief
y as store ship, mounted 90 guns, ten IS
pound carronades, and ten short IS with only
90 men on board. In reply to their motto, i
wrote at my mizen, Z" God, our Country and
Liberty Tvrtl1ltS ofend them"
On getting their provisions on board they
went off the port for the purpose of blockad-
ing me, where they cruised for near six weeks
during which time endeavored to provoke
challenge, and frequently, but Intellectually.
to bring the Phoebe alone to action, first with
both my ships, with both crews on board |
was several times under way, ard ascertained
that had greatly the ADVANTAGE in point of
sailing, and once succeeded in closing within
gun shot of the Phoebe, and commenced a fire
on her, when she ran down for the Cherub,
which was miles to leeward /; this excited
some surprize and expressions of Indignation.
as previous to my getting under way, she
hove too off the port, hoiSted her motto flag
and hred gun to windward. Com. Hillyar
seemed determined TO avoid contest with me
on nearly equal terms, and from his extreme
prudence in keeping both his ships ever after
constantly within hail of each other, there
were no hopes Of any advantages to my coun-
try from longer stay in port. / therefore
determined to put to sea the first opportunity
which should offer and ! was the more
strongly induced TO do so, as had gained GER
tain intelligence that the Tagus, rated SO, &
two other fligates, had sailed for that sea in
pursuit of me and had reason TO expect the
arrival of the Racoon from the y. W. coast
OF America, where she had been sent for the
purpose of destroying our Fur establishment
on the Columbia. A rendezvous was appoin-
ted for the Essex Junior, and every arrange
ment made for sailing, and i intended to let
them chase me of, TO give the Essex Junior all
opportunity Of escaping. On the 18th March,
the day after this determination was formed,
the wind came on to blow fresh from the
southwark, when parted nv larboard cable
and dragged my starboard anchor directly out
to sea. Not moment was to be lost in getting
sail on the ship. The enemy were close in
with the point forming the west side of the
bay but on opening them, l saw prospect
Oi passing 10 wintiwaIrG, when / took in nv
top-galant-sails, which were set over SINGLE
reefcd top-sails, and braced up for this pnr-
pose: but on rounding the point, heavy
squat struck the ship and carried away her
main-top-mast, prccipitating the men who
were alUtt into the sea, who were drowned
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