By Tuesday, the 17th, we were ready for sea; and I must do captain Stuart the justice to say, that during the two days of preparation he rendered me every assistance in his power. Four seamen, a boatswain, and one officer were transferred to the Florida from the Virago, to assist my exhausted crew; and as both vessels were ready for sea at the same time, captain Stuart towed my vessel above forty miles out. In the evening of the 17th, a fair breeze springing up, we parted company. During most of the passage up we had a fine breeze and pleasant weather. The steamer was to touch at Valdivia, and other places on the coast, so that I got ahead of her; and by Sunday, the 22d, I was off Caruma head, just south of Valparaiso. Here we had light, baffling winds, and were obliged to lay over till the next morning. About eight o’clock A. M. on Monday, the steamer was seen south of us, coming up the coast, with the Eliza Cornish in tow. I then had all my sails clewed up, set the American ensign at the mizen top-mast head, and fired two four pounders, to draw the attention of the steamer. She soon bore down for us, took us in tow also, and by two o’clock in the afternoon, of February 23d, we anchored in the harbor of Valparaiso. On my arrival, I immediately went to the United States Consul, Mr. William Duer, and through him transmitted to the Intendente of Valparaiso, commander Robert Simpson, my abandonment of the Florida. In reply I was informed by commander Simpson that he had no authority to accept the vessel, but that the subject had been referred by him to the government at Santiago. The prisoners were landed from the Virago, and the ringleaders delivered into the hands of the law; but the treasure was transferred to the Eliza Cornish; and I learned that it was claimed by the English admiral, and surrendered to him by the Chilian government; and that it was to be sent at once to England, without being landed at all in Valparaiso. Upon learning this, I immediately entered a protest before the American consul, Mr. Duer, against the seizure of the Florida, and claimed salvage on the treasure rescued by me from the hands of the pirates. On the 28th, Mr. Duer received a communication from commander Simpson, under the order of Don Antonio Varas, the Minister of Foreign Relations of the Chilian government, wishing to know fully the reasons on which I founded the abandonment of my vessel, in order to determine whether the government should give orders to take possession of the vessel in the name of the State. I then requested Mr. Duer to call a survey on the Florida, for the purpose of ascertaining her present condition and the probable cost of putting her in sea-worthy condition.