“On the 29th of November, the Ladrones being all ready for sea, they weighed and stood boldly out, bidding defiance to the invincible squadron and imperial fleet, consisting of ninety-three war-junks, six Portuguese ships, a brig, and a schooner.  Immediately after the Ladrones weighed, they made all sail.  The Ladrones chased them two or three hours, keeping up a constant fire; finding they did not come up with them, they hauled their wind, and stood to the eastward.  Thus terminated the boasted blockade, which lasted nine days, during which time the Ladrones completed all their repairs.  In this action not a single Ladrone vessel was destroyed, and their loss was about thirty or forty men.  An American was also killed, one of three that remained out of eight taken in a schooner.  I had two very narrow escapes:  the first, a twelve pounder shot fell within three or four feet of me; another took a piece out of a small brass-swivel on which I was standing.  The chief’s wife frequently sprinkled me with garlick-water, which they considered an effectual charm against shot.  The fleet continued under sail all night, steering towards the eastward.  In the morning they anchored in a large bay surrounded by lofty and barren mountains.  On the 2d of December I received a letter from Lieutenant Maughn, commander of the Honorable Company’s cruiser Antelope, saying that he had the ransom on board, and had been three days cruising after us, and wished me to settle with the chief on the securest method of delivering it.  The chief agreed to send us in a small gun-boat till we came within sight of the Antelope; then the compradore’s boat was to bring the ransom and receive us.  I was so agitated at receiving this joyful news, that it was with difficulty I could scrawl about two or three lines to inform Lieutenant Maughn of the arrangements I had made.  We were all so deeply affected by the gratifying tidings, that we seldom closed our eyes, but continued watching day and night for the boat.

“On the 6th she returned with Lieutenant Maughn’s answer, saying, he would respect any single boat; but would not allow the fleet to approach him.  The chief, then, according to his first proposal, ordered a gun-boat to take us, and with no small degree of pleasure we left the Ladrone fleet about four o’clock in the afternoon.  At one P.M. saw the Antelope under all sail, standing towards us.  The Ladrone boat immediately anchored, and dispatched the compradore’s boat for the ransom, saying, that if she approached nearer they would return to the fleet; and they were just weighing when she shortened sail, and anchored about two miles from us.  The boat did not reach her till late in the afternoon, owing to the tide’s being strong against her.  She received the ransom and left the Antelope just before dark.  A Mandarin boat that had been lying concealed under the land, and watching their manoeuvres, gave chace to her, and was within a few fathoms of taking her, when she