Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/184

 “July 17th, got sight of two brigs at anchor under the fort of Pisco, and sent three boats, under the orders of Lieutenant Barber, to bring them out, which service was effected without any loss. They proved to be merchant vessels, one with a complete cargo of spirits, the other partly loaded with the same.

“July 19th, made sail for Lima; on the 22d took a brig in ballast, and received information that the enemy’s naval force in these seas consisted of one 44-gun frigate, then on her return from Panama; four smaller ships of war, two gun-brigs, and several gun-vessels; the latter stationed at Lima and Guayaquil.

“July 25th, captured a brig in ballast; and on the 27th we took one of the enemy’s gun-brigs, mounting 2 brass 18-pounders and 2 iron 4-pounders, with a complement of 37 men: whilst endeavouring to escape by sweeping she had 2 of her crew killed and 1 mortally wounded. This vessel Captain Johnston manned us a tender, and placed her under the command of Lieutenant Elton.

“July 28th, got sight of a ship at anchor off Patabilco; anchored, and sent the boats under Lieutenants Barber and Crosby, to take possession of her. She proved to be the Atlantic, of 300 tons, formerly an English whaler, and now mounting 13 brass 8-pounders, 4 iron guns of the same calibre, and 2 swivels, but with an incomplete cargo.

“Aug. 1st, in Truxillo roads, captured the ship Pegasus, 250 tons, laden with spirits, sugar, and rice; on the following day destroyed a brig, the crew of which hcd run her on shore at Pacasmayo to prevent her falling into our possession.

“Aug. 4th, sent the prize gun-brig amid our boats, the whole under the orders of Lieutenant Barber, into Port Paita, where they destroyed one schooner and four other small vessels.

“Aug. 7th, anchored off Puna Island, and next morning took a small brig, loaded with cocoa-nuts and spars, bound to Guayaquil. On the 9th, Lieutenants Barber and Crosby cut out two cutter-rigged gun-vessels, one mounting a brass 24-pounders, the other an iron 12-pounder, and each manned with 36 men; this capture afforded the crew of the Cornwallis a very desirable treat, as five bullocks were found on board the prizes, and they, the sick excepted, had not tasted fresh meat since leaving Port Jackson, a period of 107 days.

“Aug. 10th, captured a brig from Guayaquil bound to Panama; cargo, bale goods, flour, and potatoes, the latter particularly acceptable. Whilst at anchor off Puna, we took several small vessels, but they were of little value.

“Aug. 15th, Captain Johnston wrote to the Governor of Guayaquil, informing him that he had liberated the 72 officers and men belonging to the prize gun-vessels, on their parole; also allowed 340 subjects of Spain to go on shore at different times since his arrival in the South Seas, and requesting that the total number might be carried to the general account