Lady Cochrane, who was the belle of Valparaiso, requested Captain Downes, with whom she was on most intimate terms, to allow me to make some alterations in this building, before she could consider it as her palace. Capt. Downes readily assented, and I took on shore three of my best joiners, and fitted her ladyship out in good style, and for which she paid me handsomely. We were now about ready for sea, everything on board, Baron and all. Mr. Rolla Weeins, midshipman, an excellent young gentleman, was left on shore too ill to go the cruise. About the 10th of February, we sailed for Coquimbo, a short distance north of Valparaiso. Our business here was to liberate the brig Warrior, of New York.
She had been seized for some pretended infraction of Chilian law, but as she was a very rakish looking brig, and would doubtless add to their small navy, it would be very convenient to seize and confiscate her. But they soon found that they had to deal with somebody else. We remained here but a few days and sailed again. On entering the Bay of Coquimbo, we found the whale ship Factor, of Nantucket; the chief mate, Mr. Brock, had been cut down with the fluke of a whale, and barely escaped with his life. Our next stopping place was Arica, the most southern port of Peru. Much produce is brought here and shipped, and much however is smuggled.
Previous to sailing, an arrangement was made at Valparaiso between Capt. Downes, and an English house, who had a brig trading at Arica, but was obliged to smuggle the money off at night. The arrangement with Capt. Downes was, that he should lay too off the port, during the night, and in the morning the brig would stand out to sea. We should then come together and receive the bars and plates of gold or silver, which she had received during the night, as there was some danger that she might be captured, as it was an enemy's port. We lay off and on here, six days and nights, and received on board, the proceeds of the brig's cargo, for which Captain Dowries was handsomely remunerated.
We sailed for Callao, but when close in with the island of St. Lorenzo, were boarded by the Gulverine, a gun brig belonging to Cochrane's squadron. This brig had been kept out here on the look out for us, and with a request from his Lordship to Captain Downes, that he would not enter the port of Callao for the present, as he should attack the ships that night. Capt. Downes, although anxious to go in, as he had official business, consented to this request. We then continued on our way to Panama. That night at about eleven o'clock, it being quite dark, a sail was discovered on our weather bow, close on board of us. We kept off a few points, beat to quarters, hung up the battle lanterns, masked0 fore and aft; then hauled up and hailed the stranger, " What ship is that V no answer for nearly two minutes, when we were right abreast of him.
We were hailed, " Wliat ship is tliat f" " This is the U. S. frigate Macedonian," and at the same moment giving the order, " unmask your lantern on the gun-deck." We were now within pistol shot of him, with our gun-deck illuminated and lighted matches. He now gave the name of the ship — it was the Rose, her Spanish name I have forgotten. Capt. Downes ordered him to lay to, for he wished to board him, suspecting he had some of our deserters on board. Lieut. Percival boarded* her, and after an hour's detention, returned without finding any one. She had been fitted for twenty-two guns, and had a crew of one hundred and forty men. Her object was, without doubt, to capture any thins she could master, and if during our controversy there had been a flash seen on board of her, she would have been destroyed in fifteen minutes, for she actually was a pirate with a commission.
We then sailed for Panama, where we arrived a few days afterwards. There was evidently some jealousy here, about who we were. Although we showed the American flag, yet they believed us to be Chilians, and were no ways sociable, until they were convinced of our real character, and then the Governor * A mask, or a lantern, is a canvas bag pulled over the lantern so as to entirely hide the light until the very moment it is wanted. became very polite. Capt. D. and the Baron were his guests. The Baron became quite enamored with his only daughter, who was remarkably handsome and highly accomplished. There was something said about marriage, the particulars of which I did not learn.