provision the ships, none of which purposes could be effected in Peru,
the Protector not only having refused supplies, but having also issued
orders on the coast to withhold necessaries of all kinds even to wood
and water. From want of stores, none of the ships were fit for sea; even
the _Valdivia_, so admirably found when captured, was now in as bad a
condition as the rest, from the necessity which had arisen of
distributing her equipment amongst the other ships; and to complete her
inefficiency, the Protector refused to restore the anchors which had
been cut away from her bows at the time of her capture, thus adding to
our embarrassment.

Many of the officers had gone over to the service of Peru, and the
foreign seamen had been kept on shore in such numbers, that there were
not sufficient left to perform the duties of reefing and steering. I
therefore resolved on sending part of the squadron to Chili, and with
the remainder to proceed to Guayaquil, in order to repair and refit for
a cruise on the coast of Mexico in search of the Spanish frigates.

We reached Guayaquil on the 18th of October, and were extremely well
received by the authorities, who saluted the Chilian flag, the like
compliment being paid to their own. The work of repairing and refitting
occupied six weeks, during which period the newly-constituted Government
rendered us all the assistance in its power, entering into the most
friendly intercourse with us. The expenses, which were heavy, were all
defrayed out of the uncondemned prize-money remaining on board, this
rightfully belonging to the officers and seamen, as never having had
their previous claims satisfied by the Government, on which account it
had been retained. To inspire the seamen with the reasonable expectation
that the Chilian Government would reimburse them for their generosity, I
added money of my own, on which they willingly consented to the