or the
whale ship "Atlantic" soon fell in her way, and was promptly snapped
up. The captain of this ship was a Nantucket man, who had deserted the
flag of his country, to cruise under what he thought to be the more
powerful flag of Great Britain. Great was his disgust to find that by
his treachery he had lost all that he desired to protect. While in
chase of the "Atlantic," a second sail had been sighted; and to this
the "Essex" now gave chase. On being overhauled, the stranger at first
made some show of fighting; but a shot or two from the guns of the
frigate convinced him of the folly of this course, and he surrendered
at discretion. The vessel proved to be the whale ship letter-of-marque
"Greenwich;" a stout ship, of excellent sailing qualities. She carried
ten guns, and was in every way a valuable prize.

Porter had now been in the Pacific Ocean about three months. On the
24th of February, the "Essex," solitary defender of the flag of the
United States in the Pacific, had turned her prow northward from Cape
Horn, and embarked on her adventurous career in the most mighty of
oceans. Now in May, Porter, as he trod the deck of his good ship,
found himself master of a goodly squadron instead of one stanch
frigate. The "Essex," of course, led the list, followed by the
"Georgianna," sixteen guns, forty-two men; "Atlantic," six guns,
twelve men; "Greenwich," ten guns, fourteen men; "Montezuma," two
guns, ten men; "Policy," ten men. Of these the "Georgianna" had
already received her armament and authority as a war-vessel; and the
"Atlantic" showed such seaworthy qualities that Porter determined to
utilize her in the same way. Accordingly he set sail for Tumbez, where
he hoped to get rid of some of his prisoners, perhaps sell one or two
of his prizes, and make the necessary changes in the "Atlantic." While
on the way to Tumbez, a Spanish brig was overhauled. Her captain
vastly edified Capt. Porter by informing him that the "Nereyda," a
Peruvian privateer, had recently attacked a huge American frigate, and
inflicted great damage upon the Yankee. But the frigate proving too
powerful, the privateer had been forced to fly, and hastened her
flight by throwing overboard all her guns and ammunition.

On the 19th of June, the "Essex" with her satellites cast anchor in
the harbor of Tumbez. The first view of the town satisfied Porter that
his hopes of selling his prizes there were without avail. A more
squalid, dilapidated little se