A similar display of flags occurred on the occasion of the encounter off Valparaiso in 1814 between the British 36-gun frigate _Phoebe_ and the United States 32-gun frigate _Essex_, which resulted in the capture of the latter. Captain Porter, who commanded the American ship, made an attempt, as in the case of the _Chesapeake_, on the loyalty of the _Phoebe's_ seamen, by hoisting at his fore top-gallant-mast head the stock motto, "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights." This, in a short time, the British ship answered with the St. George's ensign and the motto, "God and Country--British sailors' best rights: Traitors offend them." Subsequently the _Essex_ hoisted her motto flag at the fore, and another on the mizen mast, with one American ensign at the mizen peak and a second lashed on the main rigging. Not to be outdone in decorations the British ship hoisted her motto flag with a profuse display of ensigns and union jacks, and all these were flying when the American ship was captured. To hoist false colours in time of war in order to entice an enemy within reach has always been considered legitimate, but it is not allowable to engage, or to commit any hostile act, under them. While it is considered legitimate to mislead, however, it is not legitimate to cheat. An example of what might appear to be a distinction without a difference is afforded by a case which occurred in 1783, when the French ship _Sybille_, a powerful 36-gun frigate, was sighted off Cape Henry by the _Hussar_ of 28 guns. The _Sybille_ had, a few days before, had a drawn fight with one of our ships of the same force, and, in consequence of injuries she had then received, had been dismasted in a puff of wind, and was under jury masts. As she was unable to chase the _Hussar_, she sought to entice her alongside, in order to take her by boarding, and accordingly she hoisted at the peak the French ensign under the English, as if she had been captured. All this was legitimate, and the _Hussar_ might or might not have been deceived by it. But the French captain did something more. He hoisted in the main shrouds an English ensign reversed, and tied in a weft or loop. Now this was a well-known signal of distress--an appeal to a common humanity, which no English officer was ever known to disregard, and the _Hussar_ closed at once. But fortunately her crew were at quarters, and the _Sybille_, hauling down the English flag at the peak and hoisting the French above, endeavoured to run her on board. Her extreme rolling, however, steadied by no sufficient sail, exposed her bottom, and several shots from the _Hussar_ went through her very bilge. By this time another of our ships, the _Centurion_ of 50 guns, had come up, and the _Sybille_ struck her flag--the reversed ensign with its weft, so dishonourably hoisted, remaining in the main shrouds. The English officer who took possession sent the French captain on board the _Hussar_, and he presented his sword to Captain Russell on the quarterdeck.