The loss in killed and wounded has been great with the enemy; among the former is the first lieutenant of the Phoebe, and of the latter Capt. Tucker, of the Cherub, whose wounds are severe. Both the Essex and Phoebe were in a sinking state, and it was with difficulty they could be kept afloat until they anchored in Valparaiso next morning. pfWF ■lilfi The battered state of the Essex will, I believe, prevent her ever reaching England, and I also think it will be out of their power to repair the damages of the Phcebe, so as to enable her to double Capo Horn. All the masts and yards of the Phoebe and Cherub are badly crippled, and their hulls much cut up; the former had eighteen 12 pound shot through her, below her water-line, some three feet under water.
Nothing but the smoothness of the water saved both the Phoebe and Essex. I hope, sir, that our conduct may prove satisfactory to our country, and that it will testify it by obtaining our speedy exchange, that we may again have it in our power to prove our zeal. Commodore Hillyar, I am informed, has thought proper to state to his government that the action lasted only -15 minutes; should he have done so, the motive may be easily discovered — but the thousand of disinterested witnesses who covered the surrounding hills, can testify that we fought his ships near two hours and a half; upwards of fifty broadsides were fired by the enemy agreeably to their own accounts, and upwards of seventy-five by ours; except the few minutes they were repairing damages, the firing was incesant.
' Soon after my capture, I entered into an agreement with Com. Hillyar to disarm my prize, the Essex-Junior, and proceed with the survivors of my officers and crew in her to the United States, taking with me all her officers and crew. 7 C5 He consented to grant her a passport to secure her from recapture. The ship was small, and we knew we had much to suffer, yet we hoped soon to reach our country in safety, that we might again have it in our power to serve it. This arrangement was attended with no additional expense, as she was abundantly supplied with provisions and stores for the vovasre. Injustice to Com. Hillyar, I must observe, that, although I can never be reconciled to the manner of his attack on the Essex, or to his conduct before the action, he has, since our capture, shown the greatest humanity to my wounded, whom he permitted me to land, on condition that the United States should bear their expenses, and has endeavored as much as lay in his power to alleviate the distresses of war by the most generous and delicate deportment towards myself, my officers and crew; he gave orders that the property of every person should be respected — his orders, however, were not so strictly attended to as might have been expected; besides being deprived of books, charts, &c. &c, both myself and officers lost many articles of our clothing, some to a considerable amount.
I should not have considered this last circumstance of sufficient importance to notice, did it not mark a striking difference between the Navy of Great Britain and that of the United States, highly creditable to the latter. By the arrival of the Tagus, a few days after my capture, I 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, Tiniour, and Now Holland, and that another frigate was sent to the River La Plata. To possess the Essex, it has cost the British government near six millions of dollars; and yet, sir, her capture was owing entirely to accident; and if we consider the expedition with which naval contests are now decided, the action is a dishonor to them.
Had they brought their ships boldly to action with a force so very superior, and having the choice of position, they should either have captured or destroyed us in one-fourth the time they were about it. During the action, our Consul General, Mr. Poinsett, called on the governor of Valparaiso, and requested that the batteries might protect the Essex. The request was refused, but he promised that if she should succeed in fighting her way to the common anchorage, he would send an officer to the British commander and request him to cease firing, but declined using force under any circumstances, and there is no doubt a perfect understanding existed between them. This conduct added to the assistance given to the British, and their friendly reception after the action, and the strong bias of the faction which governs Chili in favor of the English, as well as their hostility to the Americans, induced Mr.Poinsett to leave that country.