About three hours after their arrival on board, the two men in question were seen on the beach, making signals to be brought off, which being done, they were seized up, and received a dozen lashes each. Their object was to have gone over to Maldonado; but a river lying in the way, one of them not being a swimmer, and the other unwilling to proceed by himself, they thought proper

to return.

On the 18th, finding it impossible to remain in the river, owing partly to the strong flood, and partly to contrary winds, she stood out of the river, and bore away on her voyage. The next day, very heavy gales coming on, she was found to make much water from a leak supposed to be on the larboard bow, near the surface of the water. The Falkland Islands appeared within sight, on Friday the 31st; a few days after which, the weather becoming calm, with a smooth sea, the carpenter was let down over the larboard bow, to nail lead and canvas over a cracked plank, now discovered to be the source of the leak.

Monday the 17th of June, Cape Horn bore W. by S. four leagues. The weather was very The leak still continued. On Wednesday the 26th, Gilbert's Island bore N. five leagues. From this place she took a fresh departure.

snowy.

On Wednesday, the 3d of July, having doubled the cape, she fell in with the Earl St Vincent, Captain Pinkum, a South whaler, homeward bound, by whom she despatched letters for England. She received, at the same time, from on board this vessel, Thomas Turner, harpooner, concerning whom it may be interesting to state a few particulars. He went out at first on board a

South whaler, whose name is not now recollected; she made a very successful voyage, and, on her return home, fell in with the Earl St Vincent, outward bound. Turner, being encouraged by his late good success, got permission to go on board the Earl St Vincent, and went accordingly, with the view of doubling his good fortune. This vessel was also very successful. On his return home a second time he fell in with the Port au Prince, and went on board of her, as just related, with the same views of enjoying a continuation of the good success hitherto attending him. But the favours of fortune were now at an end; by grasping at more, he soon lost all; meeting with a most severe fate, as will be hereafter related.

The Port au Prince having received information from the Earl St Vincent, that two South whalers, captured by the Spaniards, were detained at Conception, it was resolved that she should proceed, as it lay in her voyage, to endeavour to cut them out. Accordingly, on the 12th, she passed the island of Mocha with a fair wind, and steered along the coast for Conception. When off the island of St Mary's two boats were sent on shore for vegetables; a few men sick of the scurvy were also sent on shore to refresh. On the 20th of July, under American colours, she arrived off Quiriquina, an island near the bay of Conception. Here four boats, well armed and manned, were sent on shore to procure stock, commanded by Mr J. Parker, first lieutenant; Mr Russell, second lieutenant ; Mr Brown, whaling-master; and Mr Williams, officer of marines. Representing to the inhabitants that the Port au Prince was an American, they received information in return, that there were

two English whalers in the bay, exactly as was stated by the Earl St Vincent. They waited till dusk, and then proceeded from the island to Conception, assured by Thomas Turner that there were no guns mounted, nor any batteries; of which he was fully convinced, he said, having formerly been on shore there. The weather, unfortunately, was now calm, which circumstance prevented the Port au Prince from getting into the bay to assist the boats. They, however, succeeded in boarding one of the whalers (the Albion), and having secured the Spaniards and cut the cables, towed her about a quarter of a mile, the calm rendering her sails quite useless and no doubt they would have succeeded in towing her quite clear of the forts, for such there were, notwithstanding Turner's account, had it not been for an accident, occasioned by this unfortunate man. He was employed steering one of the boats, when happening to look to the priming of his pistols, one of them unluckily went off: which alarming the sentinels on shore, two batteries were immediately opened upon them. It was here that Turner met his fate: to avoid the fire he stooped his body, bringing his chin near his knees, when a shot took away his lower jaw, his left arm as far as the elbow, and his right hand, grazing at the same time his left side, and carrying off the upper fleshy part of his right thigh: it did not, however, immediately kill him. The boat was much shattered, and one lad was slightly wounded by a splinter. The calm still continuing, and the enemy keeping up a constant fire, they were obliged to relinquish the prize. About six hours afterwards Turner died of his wounds.

On Monday, the 22d, the wind coming in light breezes, the Port au Prince endeavoured to get into the Bay of Conception. After coming within range of a seven gun battery, she hove in stays, and gave them a shot, which they immediately returned, striking the covering-board abaft the gangway, and slightly wounding a boy. Finding it at last impracticable to do any thing with the fort, both the whalers being now hauled close under it, she stood out to sea.

On Monday, the 29th, at ten o'clock p. m., two boats were sent into the bay to reconnoitre. They found the town in a state of alarm, drums beating, and lights moving about in all directions; but discovering that the ships were still close to the fort, they soon returned. On Wednesday, at five p. m., she anchored in Coquimbo roads. At eight o'clock three Spanish gentlemen, mistaking her for a smuggler, came on board with the expectation of finding contraband goods. A stratagem was used to confirm their opinion, till they should bring money on board to trade with. Samples of cloth, cut from the inside of the officers' coats, were accordingly shown to them as fair specimens of the quality of the goods; on which they promised to bring money to make purchases. At ten the following night, they returned, accompanied by three others. They brought specie to the amount of 4000 dollars. After having been entertained in the cabin till two or three in the morning, becoming anxious to see the goods, they were accordingly conducted below, and informed that they were prisoners of war. At first they took it for a joke, and laughed heartily, but soon became serious enough, on being convinced of the truth.

One of them was so much affected that he actually swooned away. When the first shock arising from this unpleasant information was over, they began to be a little more reconciled; and expressed their expectations, that although they were prisoners, their 4000 dollars would be returned; but they were told in answer, that the Port au Prince being a private ship of war, and the men consequently having no wages but what consisted in the booty they might obtain, the money must undoubtedly be retained. Don Felix, one of them, and who well deserved his name, did not make himself at all unhappy on the occasion, but ate, drank, and cheered up the rest as well as he could. On finding, at dinner, that his companions had lost their appetites, he very jocosely desired them to stand upon no compliments, but fall to and eat heartily, the whole being well paid for.

The following day, August 2d, a letter was sent to the governor of the town, to inform him that the Port au Prince was an enemy; and that, if he did not capitulate, the place would be taken by force. In the meantime, two more Spaniards came on board with 400 dollars, expecting to purchase smuggled goods, but of course they met the fate of their six countrymen. In the evening four boats, well manned and armed, were sent on shore to break open and plunder certain warehouses opposite the vessel, about a mile and a half distant from the town, which was situated on the other side of the bay. They succeeded in bringing off 52 packed hides of tallow, 800 gallons of wine, four pigs of copper, and a number of dried hides. The first six prisoners were now liberated and sent on shore, though contrary to the