He made no attempt to avoid a meeting but on the contrary rather courted a fight with his old friend Hillyar, whom he had known socially on the Mediterranean station.

For an officer of Porter's temper and training the capture of British whalers was a useful but by no means glorious employment.

He believed the real vocation of a frigate of the American navy was to engage the enemy.
The _Phoebe_ and the _Cherub_ sailed into the Chilean roadstead in February, 1814, and found the _Essex_ there.

As Captain Hillyar was passing in to seek an anchorage, the mate of a British merchantman climbed aboard to tell him that the _Essex_ was unprepared for attack and could be taken with ease.

Her officers had given a ball the night before in honor of the Spanish dignitaries of Valparaiso, and the decks were still covered with awnings and gay with bunting and flags.
Reluctant to forego such a tempting opportunity, Captain Hillyar ran in and luffed his frigate within a few yards of the Essex.