A COASTING VOYAGE.

209 put him in the way of making his fortune and adding greatly to mine.

"I fully intended to have written to the dear boys, but, having neglected to do it till there is no longer time, I will prepare a letter for them, and likewise complete for you the narrative of the marvellous adventures of R. J. C., already begun, and send them both by the first good opportunity.

"Of the political state of this country, it differs very little from what it was at this time last year. The republicans have the ascendency at sea, but, as their opponents have laid by all their shipping, there is no chance of making prizes; consequently the maintenance of their ships must come from themselves, and their resources are not competent to it for any length of time. How the business will end time only can determine, but the method taken by the English commanders of the Chilian ships to make converts to republicanism, that of first stripping them of their property, seems to have produced a contrary effect. A want of activity, a want of enterprise, a sluggishness in forming plans and an eternity in executing them, prove that these people are the legitimate descendants of those of whom, more than two centuries past, the other Europeans used to say, 'Let death come from Spain,' implying thereby that it would be so long in coming that nothing need be apprehended from it.

"Adieu, my dear wife. May death neither come from Spain nor any other quarter till we have had one more embrace. My love to the boys and all the family.

"Yours, as ever, most affectionately,

RICHARD."

His next operation was to charter the ship for a four-months' voyage on the coast, at $10,000 per month. This voyage-to Huasco and Pacasmayo, and thence to Valparaiso and back to Callao-was successfully performed, although he was brought to on the way to Valparaiso by a Chilian 64-gun ship, bearing the flag of Admiral Blanco, who, on being satisfied that the ship had been chartered and laden on English account, allowed him to go on without molestation.

The following letter from Valparaiso evinces that he appreciated the importance of taking the tide in his affairs at the flood, and was making the most of his opportunities:

"VALPARAISO, January 19, 1820. "I shall sail from here to-morrow for Callao with a full cargo of wheat for account of the charterer of the ship. After unlading my ship and settling my affairs it is most probable I shall proceed to Guayaquil, and lade the ship with cocoa for Europe or the United States, and determine which at Rio Janeiro, where I shall stop on my way. While fortune seems propitious I am giving her such an opportunity of evincing her favors as appears to astonish the natives. In addition to attending to the duties of my own ship I have purchased the ship Ocean, of three hundred and sixty-five tons, and despatched her with a cargo of wheat for Callao; one half of the fine ship Zephyr, of three hundred and sixty tous, and have chartered the Swedish ship Drottingen, of five hundred tons, all loaded with wheat for my private account. My expectation of emolument is not so much from profit on the wheat as from the advantageous employment of the ships; and should the demand for them at Lima be equal to what it was when I left there, I shall realize a handsome fortune. Indeed, if I were as sanguine as I was in my younger days, I should say it was certain; but, alas! I have been too severely taught the uncertainty of everything mundane not to be prepared for disappointment.

"The Chilian navy is now entirely commanded and officered by English adventurers, men of desperate fortunes, who, under the mask of giving freedom to this country, are in pursuit of their own fortunes, and regardless of means of their attainment. If it were not that we have a frigate in this neighborhood, no American vessel could navigate here with safety."

On his return to Callao, having successfully accomplished the object for which the ship was chartered, he found he had the control of so large an amount of property for account of the owners of the Beaver, besides the handsome fortune he had accumulated for

PREPARATIONS FOR RETURNING HOME.

211

himself, that he felt justified in making immediate preparations for returning home. Indeed, the condition of the ship indicated but too clearly that she would, ere long, be incapable of making the passage. He therefore contracted for a cargo of cocoa, to be taken on board at Guayaquil, and busied himself with settling his affairs and making arrangements for the employment of the other ships in his service.

On the 12th of March he sailed for Guayaquil, and on the 10th of April writes to his wife from that place as follows:

“GUAYAQUIL, April 10, 1820.

"I came to this place with the expectation of lading with cocoa for the United States, for which purpose I had contracted with a merchant of Lima, to be delivered to me here, but am disappointed. A sudden and unexpected demand has put it out of the power of the agent here to fulfil the contract, and with about two thirds of a cargo I am on the point of returning to Callao, in hopes of making up the remainder there. If I succeed I may be with you as soon as you receive this; but whether I am or not, I ought to make you acquainted with the state of my affairs.

"The ship Drottingen, by which I send this via Europe, is loaded with cocoa, entirely on my account-a cargo which cost upwards of $80,000-of which I risk only one half, the other half being on respondentia. Her supercargo, Mr. Coit, will forward this to you from Europe.

"I am proprietor of one half the fine ship Zephyr, of Providence, for which I gave $15,000. This ship is now engaged in a profitable freighting business on the coast of Peru. The proceeds of these freights will be deposited in safe hands in Lima, so that there will be nothing but the ship at risk till the closing of the voyage via China, Europe, or the United States.

"I am likewise owner of one half the ship Ocean, of three hundred and sixty-five tons, which cost me $7500. This ship had a freight of $16,000, engaged from hence to Callao, but the governor

here has thought proper to throw obstacles in the way of her proceeding, and she must therefore remain here till I can get an order from the viceroy for her release. She will be advantageously employed in freighting on this coast, and is commanded by my former mate, Mr. Pinkham.

"I have likewise an interest of $15,000 in the voyage of the brig Macedonian, Captain E. Smith, to China and back to Callao. As this cargo will be introduced into Lima on very favorable terms, the prospect is very flattering. She is expected back in three or four months. In the Beaver I shall have on board for my own account about eight tons of cocoa and eight or ten thousand dollars in specie.

"Thus, my dear wife, you will perceive that if I have done well for my owners I have not done less for myself, and if I arrive safe it may fairly be presumed there will be no necessity for navigating more. May the joyful day of our meeting soon arrive, when there will be no alloy of anticipated separation."

Returning to Callao, it was found necessary to discharge part of the cargo, in order to recalk the ship before proceeding to sea. This being accomplished, and the ship ready for sea, he sailed for Rio Janeiro on the evening of March 11, 1820.

CHAPTER XIII.

1820.

Recapitulation of the Occurrences of Three Years.--Letter from the Underwriters, and His Reply.—Home Again.-Disgraceful Conduct of the National Insurance Company.

THREE years had now elapsed since his departure from New York, and in all that time he had received no tidings from his family. A packet of letters had been sent to him by the frigate Macedonian, but the chaplain who had it in charge had died on the passage, the package was not left at any port where he might have found it, and as the frigate failed to fall in with him the letters only reached him several months after his return home.

A recapitulation of the leading events in his experience since the seizure of his ship may here be appropriately introduced.

After all the property intrusted to his charge had been taken from him and he had suffered all the anguish incident to such a situation, aggravated by the efforts of his captors to make his situation so uncomfortable as to force him to abandon the attempt to recover it, he had finally succeeded by persistent effort in recovering the ship and a remnant of the cargo. Within a twelvemonth of the time of her restoration he had employed her so advantageously as to have paid all the expenses of repairing, revictualling, and remanning her,