— False report concerning Capt. Downes, — Refit the ship, — I build a launch, — Trouble with my men, — They get drunk, — Mystery how they obtain their liquor, — Discovery, — Strange milk fron a girl, — She is forbidden to come again, — Affair between Weerns and an American captain, — Cowskinning, — Affair between an English captain and one of our lieutenants, — Arrival of part of the Essex, — Boat nearly finished,— Unfeeling conduct of the midshipman who shot Abercrombie. — All ready for sea, — Sail for Callao, — Arrive off San Lorenzo, — Indepentia discovered, — Cochrane's fleet under way, — Beat to quarters all ready, — Ship standing for us — Communication from his lordship, — Fill away, — Along-side the Admiral, — Excitement at Callao, — Anchor,— Esmaralda and gun boats, — Rejoicing among the American ships, — Declaration of Cochrane, — Noble conduct of Capt.
Downes, — Receive a letter of censure from Cochrane, — Capt. Downe's reply, — Our ship's position, — Accident to myself, — Confined to my cot. — Danger of bleeding to death, — Wound heals, — Suspicious movement of the blockading squadron, — They approach towards the forts, who open fire upon them, — We prepare for an emergency, — Capt. Downes at Lima, — Attack on the Esmaralda, — Our position, — Exposed to the fire of all the batteries, — Success of Cochrane, — Esmaralda cut out, — Great loss of life, — Melancholy murder of our boat's crew, by the soldiers,— Escape o? one man with the boat. T\te had an abundance of news to hear, and a large amount of work to do.
The first item of news that required attention was. that it was currently reported at Valparaiso, the reason that the Macedonian did not go into Callao on her cruise down the Coast was. that Lord Cochrane had forbidden her entering past the blockade. When this report reached the ear of Capt. Downes, as a matter of course, he felt quite indignant at such a base fabrication. But now the Macedonian was bound to go into Callao. anyhow. My boat timber was sent on shore, together with the armorer's forge, and the two blacksmiths. I took four carpenters with me. as they were the only men in the carpenter's crew that could handle tools well enough to work on a boat.
I commenced richt away in good earnest, as I was told that I could have but eighteen days in which to build her. She was thirty-three feet long and eight feet broad. We had a tent erected, and everything on shore that was wanted. The frigate lay very near us, so that going and coming occupied but little time. The first two or three days we got along very well. One day after dinner I found both the armorer, and his mate, drunk, under the forge. Where they got their rum from, I could not imagine. I roused them out, and gave the armorer a blowing up, as he is considered a petty officer and had no right to get drunk.
He promised not to do it again if I would say nothing about it on board the ship. Soon after I began to suspect the carpenters, I was under very strong apprehensions that they had some method of getting liquor unknown to me. They were sometimes stupid before nine o'clock A. M., and several times quite drunk in the afternoon, and often went on board the ship in that condition at sundown. I assured Mr. Maury, that I was unable to tell how they could get anything to get drunk on, as they were not out of my sight a moment through the day, neither did any one converse with them. Now, here was a mystery, and a very unpleasant one for me, as I was obliged to work like a slave, to get the boat off in time; and if they got drunk, it would of course throw more work upon me.
The mystery however was soon solved, much to my relief. Since we had been at work on shore, we left the ship soon after daylight, and took bread and milk for breakfast. The milk was brought by a very pretty Spanish girl, who came to the corner of the fort, and put her face out, and in a shrill, musical voice cried out, " Leche," " Leche," (milk, milk.) The sea was high up against the wall of the fort, so that she could not advance any nearer. One of the men would take two tin pots, and go for the milk. And surely there could not be rum in the milk, for I drank of it myself. But the dear little creature, apparently so innocent, was up to a thing or two.