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November 29, 1849.-" Carried all studding-sails and royals from the time the pilot left us. Vessel behaving as well as a frigate; perfectly easy in her roll and decks dry, although quite a heavy sea on. Officers and men contented and happy; the latter believed to be more so from having all of them stopped their whisky-ration."

Thus far the

Gulf Stream.

December 4, 1849.-" Sea heavy, and vessel very uneasy. passage has been exceedingly rough, except in crossing the All the officers are sea-sick, and a great number of the men. Surgeon has been reading to me Neander's Church History. We have frequent conversations on the subject of religion. This day have been twenty-seven years in the Navy."

December 5, 1849.-"Fresh gales and squalls. Carried sail very heavily to ascertain the qualities of the brig, which stood up uncommonly well under a large press. Toward night close-reefed the top-sails. From eight to twelve, very heavy sea, with thunder, lightning, and rain. Vessel very uncomfortable all night; I did not get more than four hours' sleep, being on deck until after 1 A.M. My eyes suffer from great exposure and watching."

December 9, 1849.-"Gale increasing and sea very heavy, but the brig exceedingly comfortable under the circumstances; takes in a great deal of spray, but not as much sea as when the wind was ahead. At three called all hands on deck to witness punishment, when I was under the painful necessity of giving seaman twelve lashes with the cats for having gone below when it was his watch on deck. I said a few words to the crew in relation to duty, etc. Made eight inches of water in one hour, which excited apprehension lest the leak might increase as fast as the pumps could free her; but after midnight the gale abated and the leak diminished, showing it to have been in a measure produced by the heavy weather."

December 16, 1849.-" I read divine service to all hands, during which time a quantity of spray came over me, and the wind was so fresh that I was obliged to read very loud."

December 31, 1849.-"Climate affecting my eyes, and debilitating the system generally."

Private Journal.

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January 1, 1850. Porto Praya.-"A new year has commenced. May God forgive, for his Son's sake, all my sins, and grant me his continual presence during the year to come. One year ago an illness of the most painful and dangerous character confined me to my bed for five months. Now the next five months are to be spent in a most unhealthy climate in the most unhealthy season."

January 8, 1850.-" On Sunday I had one of my severe headaches. I was in consequence unable to read the service, although I had invited several officers from the flag-ship to be present."

January 12, 1850. At sea.-"Found bottom in one hundred fathoms. The master had the morning watch, and ought to have reported the discoloration of the water; but he is ill-qualified to perform his duty (especially in taking reckoning), which imposes a severe tax upon my eyes. Carried away, or parted, the lead-line, which was an old one, and the only deep-sea line we have, except one much smaller of sixty fathoms. We were fitted out miserably in Norfolk. The master and passed midshipman differed much in their reckoning. Found we were farther east than I had anticipated. Spent an anxious and uncomfortable day. Such a command is no sinecure. Ah! this life in its most enviable state satisfies not the soul. May God enable me in faith to look to him for help in all things.

"This is the anniversary of my dear mother's death. I have not dwelt much upon it, as my mind has been necessarily occupied with the vessel. She was a lovely character, and her life was a labor of love. How blessed and happy she is now-how enviable her state compared with mine! If our friends who are gone look down upon us, I trust that her smiles may encourage me in the path of duty. I may lose this vessel and lose much of my professional reputation, or I may succeed in taking slavers, and do humanity some service; but, with the exception of doing good to my fellow-men, of how little value is every thing in this life. May God make me to live near him from love to him."

January 14, 1850.-"Yesterday, Sunday, we had service, when I read a sermon by Rev. Sydney Smith on 'Self-examination.' The day was warm, but not oppressive. All was quiet, and I hope it was a profitable Sunday for me. This morning, in fact during the night, the weather was unsettled; but having seen so much thunder and lightning and heavy

rain so near the equator, I thought but little of it. At eight, going on deck in Lieutenant Rush's watch, I saw ahead a dark, ugly looking cloud, with the arch just above the horizon, denoting a tornado. By the time we could get studding-sails and all sail in it struck us-blew heavily, but rained more so, with the heaviest peals of thunder and more vivid forks of lightning than are ever seen out of the tropics, away from Africa. The weather prevented our taking observation; for which we were very sorry, as we are so near Cape Ann Shoals. Accomplished nothing more than looking out for the vessels."

January 29, 1850.-"My views are not carried out. While the greater part of the officers are ready to sustain me, and do all in their power to render the vessel effective, and all hands comfortable and happy, a few are adverse and derange every thing; and this, added to the intolerable climate, makes the situation unenviable. I am determined, however, to carry out my own system where I command."

February 27, 1850.-" Progressing favorably, and much relieved in relation to the passage; but very anxious about the coast, as we are in want of proper charts, and have to run in close to examine all places where there are slavers."

April 3, 1850.-"I am quite ill with lumbago and fever. I write this as I may not be able to write any thing more, for I feel that my health is failing me. I have had too much excitement of late; but I trust in God, if it is his will that I die in this foreign land or at sea. I have tried to act well my part, but fear that as a follower of the Lord I have been sadly remiss; still, I cling to him."

April 5, 1850.—"I went out in chase of a vessel, passed the Cyclops, and stood for an American brig; fired two guns, not shotted; but on kept the trader till I overhauled and boarded him. He was from New London, loaded with Yankee notions. The English steamer Pluto attempted to cut off the chase for us, but our boats had reached her. Thus we have caught every thing which we have seen."

May 29, 1850.-" Some days since my pains were so excessive that I literally gave up and took to my bed. The doctor administered quinine and blisters. I have obtained no relief for many days, but I have still

Private Journal.

93

exercised in bed the duties of captain. I feel satisfied that God does for us better than we could do for ourselves. My illness and disappointments have had a good effect upon me in a spiritual sense."

June 17, 1850.-"I wished to remain in port but four days; and, going into my old business of first lieutenant, I had upward of three thousand gallons of water brought on board, ship painted, and rigging overhauled on the fourth day. Double the work in half the time was performed by the vessel's officers and men, who were reduced nearly one half on account of captures, showing how effective my system is compared with the driving system adopted by one of the first lieutenants. I shall in future insist upon my own system being followed. The Martha produced quite a sensation here. Our men did not taste a drop of liquor, but all behaved like good men. Hon. Captain Hastings, of the Cyclops, called on me, and congratulated me on taking a big prize, and said: 'I am delighted; it is the heaviest blow given to the slave-traders since I have been on the coast.' He thought the moral effect upon Brazilian and American slavetraders, of my having sent all hands to America, would be great. I cruised off Ambriz for a day or two, and was boarded by the captain of H. M. steamer Pluto, with whom I had an hour's pleasant chat. My health is improving physically, and I pray it may be spiritually also."

June 28, 1850.-"Employed in getting up cappings, whipping hawsers, etc. Am contented and happy-the doctor reading to me Neander. Lumbago worse than usual to-day, but health and spirits, thank God, much better. All hands are happy, and brig efficient."

July 23, 1850.-"On the morning of the 2d of July, at half-past three o'clock, I was called and informed that a vessel was standing down for us. I at once sent word to the officer of the deck to clear away the battery and send the men to the guns. While dressing I heard a musket fire, and at once ordered a return fire. The brig passed our stern, when we exchanged names and a few words in a courteous manner. I felt as if the commander of the other vessel, having fired first (although we returned it), ought to have explained himself; and, on reflection, concluded to go after him for the purpose of demanding an explanation. I proceeded to Benguela, and remained two days, and then sailed for the Flying Fish, the name of H. M. brig for which I was in search. We spoke the Water Witch, and were told that she was cruising but a short distance to the

G

northward.

Had our guns all cast loose ready for firing, and cruised for the vessel two or three days, when I was informed by the captain of the brig Spy that he had relieved the Flying Fish, and that she had gone north of the equator. I then proceeded to Ambriz; and supposing that the Flying Fish had really gone north, I wrote the following letter to her captain, which I read to Hon. Captain Hastings, and requested him to forward it to Captain Paty:

"SIR,-On the morning of the 2d of July, as you approached us, a musket was fired from the brig under your command, which was returned by a similar fire from this vessel.

"I regarded the occurrence as a mistake on your part arising from the obscurity of the night, and supposed that you would avail yourself of the earliest opportunity to explain it.

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'Subsequently, as the vessels passed each other, you made no offer of explanation.

"I therefore now call upon you for an apology, explaining the circumstances which led to your exceptionable course toward a national vessel of the United States.'

"Captain Hastings informed me that Captain Paty was cruising but a short distance to the northward, and I could see him myself. He asked me if Commander Paty fired after I did. I told him no; if he had, I would have opened our battery upon him. I then left Captain Hastings and cruised for the Flying Fish several days, and at length fell in with the object of my search. I sent the purser, Mr. Watmough, on board to ask an apology and an explanation, telling him if it were not promptly made, to hand my letter to Commander Paty. The commander, on receiving Mr. W., at once expressed his regrets that he had fired first, and said he would go on board and see Captain Foote, which he did; and in my cabin apologized fully, and stated that as we had accidentally come up in the wind and were going round, he thought we were trying to get clear of him; and, suspecting that we were a slaver, fired to bring us to, and he stopped when we fired. He said all that he could have said, and fully satisfied me that he regretted the affair, and was ready to make any amend in his power; and this, together with our having returned his musket-fire, satisfied me."

September 28, 1850.-" One year ago to-day I was ordered to the command of the Perry. Much has been endured and accomplished. I do not regret having accepted the command; still no one can imagine what

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