"We are ready for sea, and only waiting for sailing orders from the Department; but we hear little from Washington except the next Presidential election, the Greek cause, and the Holy Alliance, which I sincerely hope may produce a war. Then the prospect of the naval officer would brighten, and in the space of a few years would elevate us who are now in service to the highest rank, which will take some time if the country remain at peace with all nations much longer."

The Peacock sailed from Norfolk for the Pacific on the 29th of March, 1824. During the period of this South American cruise, which covered three years of service, our Navy was compelled to observe a strict neutrality in the wars of liberation of the South American republics with old Spain, which was a difficult and certainly not an enviable position for Americans, although there seemed to be lacking the elements of that high morality and that capacity for self-government which dignified our own struggle for independence. Foote was detached from the Peacock and transferred to the frigate United States, Commodore Isaac Hull commanding, September 8, 1824. A letter written during this period to his Cheshire friend and schoolmate is worth transcribing, not as containing any thing brilliant, but as being the letter of a manly youth:

"DEAR FRIEND,

6

"U. S. FRIGATE UNITED STATES,'

CALLAO, PERU, Sept. 15, 1824.

I have so much to communicate that this small

sheet will admit of giving no more than a concise detail of circumstances which have fallen to my observation.

"Until our arrival at Callao we experienced in our little ship every pleasure and hardship incident to a mariner's life. A few days after our departure from the United States we had a very heavy thunder-storm, and one flash of lightning struck the ship, killing four men instantly and wounding several others dangerously, who, however, have recovered partially; yet the greater part of them will never perfectly be restored. From that time to our arrival at Rio Janeiro nothing worthy of mention took place. For a description of that city, I refer you to John's letters. After spending ten pleasant days at Rio, we weighed anchor and stood

In South America.

29

to the southward and westward, shaping our course round Cape Horn. The weather as we made southing grew cold very sensibly, owing to the winter having already set in. We were as far south as 60° 15'; and, in the winter month of January, it is useless to add we suffered from the inclemency of the weather. You know by experience the cold weather which prevails in the mild climate of 41°; then judge its severity in that of 60°, adding to this the constant heavy gales prevalent off the Cape. However, our time would have been rather more pleasant had the smallpox not have paid us a long and exterminating visit. We lost twelve valuable men, by this disease, and at a time when the ship appeared to be at the mercy of the waves. Their loss was severely felt, owing to the fact that the vessel was then too short-manned. But after an unpleasant run of fifty-six days, we arrived at Valparaiso, as light-hearted and in rather better spirits than when we left Rio. Owing to Commodore Hull being at Callao, our stay at Valparaiso was short. We left with a convoy for Callao, first, however, landing the American consul at Coquimbo; we then made the harbor of Callao on the 15th of August, and here saw the broad pendant of Commodore Isaac Hull. We saluted him with the usual number of guns that his rank was entitled to. Our time was now pretty actively employed, the revolutionary state of the country rendering it necessary for us to keep on the alert, owing to the advantage the privateers took of seizing and condemning our merchant ships, under pretense of their being engaged in smuggling arms to the Patriots. A few days after our arrival the Peruvian admiral entered the harbor with a frigate and two brigs, and blockaded the harbor, the Spaniards having at the time one frigate, two brigs, and ten gun-boats. No signs of an attack were made by the Spaniards until Sunday, the 5th of this month, when the gun-boats pulled for the brig, which unfortunately came out of gun-shot of the frigate. The attack commenced with every prospect of crowning the Royalists victors; but their want of courage enabled the brig to haul under cover of the frigate before she received any serious injury. After a spirited engagement of one hour, the Spaniards retreated with the loss of about thirty men killed, and nearly the same number wounded; two boats sunk, and seven others badly injured. The loss of the Patriots was one killed on board the brig, and two in the frigate. The Spaniards, since their unsuccessful attack, seem to be little disposed to hazard another engagement. The Royalists at the time were in constant expectation of a heavy naval reinforcement from Spain. The 12th of this month the Asia and Constantia arrived, the former a 74-gun ship, the latter a

22-gun brig. The Patriots' force at this time consisted of a 36-gun frigate, and one small 10-gun brig. The Spanish force, you will perceive, was greatly superior. Notwithstanding, Admiral Grey slipped his cable, stood out of the harbor, hove to, and fired three 44's at the Spaniards; hauled up his courses, and waited for the Spanish frigate; but she most cowardly made sail, and declined an engagement. As she passed, we were at quarters, and it would have taken little provocation from her to have been complimented with a broadside from Uncle Isaac. I will now pass over the strife between the two hostile parties, and mention my object in becoming attached to the flag-ship. On the arrival of the Peacock, some difficulty took place in regard to Captain Carter, which terminated in his return to the United States. Several of the officers left the Peacock, and joined other ships; and I was induced to send to Commodore Hull an application for his ship, it being larger than the Peacock, and the accommodation better. I came on board on the 8th. The commodore has his wife and Miss Hart with him. We get a glance at them occasionally. Excuse haste and deficiencies, and believe me your friend,

"ANDREW H. FOOTE."

In another letter to the same friend, dated Chorilos, August 12, 1825, he further speaks of his Pacific coast experiences:

"We are now lying in an open roadstead unprotected from the sea, consequently the motion is very troublesome, and the surf at times so heavy as to render landing dangerous. It is necessary to make this the port of entry, as Callao is blockaded by a squadron consisting of seven sail, two of which are frigates. As soon as Callao falls we shall return to that port; but when she will capitulate is uncertain, as the city expends from two to three hundred shot daily, and is well provisioned.

"We have less opportunity for enjoying ourselves on shore than we had in Chili, as Lima is nine miles distant, and Chorilos a small place containing but a few huts. A party of us visited Lima a short time since, where we spent four days very pleasantly. The city may still be styled one of the richest cities in the world, although poor to what it was before the revolution. During the struggle it has alternately been in possession of Royalists and Patriots, who have robbed the churches of vast quantities of plate. From a single altar was coined one hundred thousand dollars. We saw the grand palace where Pizarro resided; also the apartment in which he was assassinated. I forgot to mention the walk

A Disappointment.

31

ing-dress of the ladies, which is admirably calculated to carry on an intrigue. The part from the waist down contains thirty yards of silk, plaited in such a manner as to set perfectly smooth, in order to show a fine shape. The robe covering the head is also silk, and large enough to conceal the face excepting one eye. Equipped in this manner, I have seen ladies watch the movements of their husbands by following them through the city, the virtuous not being distinguished from the vicious."

We find among the officers then sailing in the United States the familiar names of H. Paulding, C. H. Davis, William C. Nicholson, Thomas T. Craven, H. K. Thatcher, and James Armstrong.

Returning to New York in the United States from this threeyears' service, April 25, 1827, Andrew successfully underwent his examination for passed midshipman. He had been laboriously preparing himself for this by availing himself of all opportunities of study and observation in his reach; and Admiral Davis says of this examination that Foote and himself got news of it together, and the question was how to get ready? They at once set about their preparation with great earnestness, consulting what books they had access to, but chiefly making practical observations, and reducing the science of their profession to a regular working system.

Foote had been up to this time four years and five months constantly at sea. It would seem as if he had earned the right to a little rest at home; but, as if it were expressly so planned by his superiors, he was to be allowed no time to display his midshipman's uniform ashore; and on the 26th of August, 1827, to his sore disappointment, he was sent off a second time to the West Indies for a brief cruise, first in the Natchez and afterward in the Hornet, to which he was transferred October 8, 1827. He had set his heart upon making a cruise with the Mediterranean squadron, for which station he applied. His hopes were not realized. Something better, however, than the gratification of his desires, or even the educa

C

tion of his mind, was in store for him. A change of character that raised him to a higher level of manhood awaited him on this short West India voyage. After he had been at sea some six weeks or two months, his mother received a letter from him, in which are these words: "You may discharge your mind from anxiety about your wayward son." The letter then went on to relate that one of the lieutenants of the ship had spoken to him soon after joining the Natchez on religious subjects, and, as his expression was, he had "bluffed him off" by saying that he had aimed to be honorable and honest in all things, and that would do for him. But, after getting on the station, upon a beautiful moonlight night, while riding quietly at anchor, the same officer and himself being on duty, the lieutenant spoke to him again about the subject of religion, and with such earnestness that, as he said, his "knees for the first time bowed to his Maker;" and as soon as he was released from duty, he took his Bible and went into the steerage, and read it under great agitation of mind. This he did. for two weeks, when, upon going on deck one day, he came to the resolution that "henceforth, under all circumstances, he would act for God;" upon which his mental anguish and trouble vanished.

In this simple manner he recounts that event in his history which made him a new man, and a true Christian hero. It did not make him over into a perfect character, but he was established now on right principles, and a high and pure impulse was given to his life; and take that life through, at sea and on shore, in battle and at peace, in success and adversity, in life and death, we shall find that, by divine aid, he carried out the resolution made in his youth that "he would act for God."

It should be said here, so that it need not be misunderstood. by the reader, that this is the biography of a Christian officer. He thought himself to be, and his life proved that he was