Frazer.] obo [Sept. 6, 



fiimily left Tripoli in November, 1838. In a letter from him dated January 

 22, 1840, he reports having addressed a letter to the President, soliciting 

 an appointment in the Navy, but without much hope of success. 



Under this same date, he adds : "Edward writes and speaks fluently 

 the French and Italian, and speaks with equal fluency the Arabic and 

 Turkish, and writes a little of the latter, at which he continues to study." 

 He mentions also Edward's fondness for the sea, and the fact that he has 

 navigated the schooner yacht to Malta and back. 



In subsequent letters the Consul asks the assistance of "Uncle Stewart " 

 (Admiral Charles Stewart) and the Consul's brother (afierwaids Com. 

 Charles S. McCaulej'). in securing the appointment from the Secretary of 

 the Navy. Mr, Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, has assured him his 

 application will secure respectful consideration when a vacancy occurs. 



The wife and three of the children of D. S. McCauley returned to the 

 United States, but Mary and Edward remained behind, the latter because 

 the Consul's mother had advised him that Edward will be appointed to 

 one of the first vacancies in the corps of midshipmen. 



Edward remained in Tripoli, studying to fit himself for the Navy. The 

 family was in great suspense at the delay in receiving the warrant, which, 

 however, finally arrived, having been dated September 9, 1841 (letter 

 from D. S. McCauley, dated November 16, 1841). 



It does not appear, however, that he was assigned to duty until 1843, dur- 

 ing which year his father received permission from the captain of H. M. line- 

 of-batlle ship, Malabar, to put Edward aboard this British war ship for the 

 voyage to Gibraltar, with the understanding that he was to be transferred 

 to any U. S. man-of-war which should chance to meet the Malabar, en route. 



It happened that the Malabar (ell in with U. S. sloopof-war, Fairfield, 

 Capt. William F. Lynch commanding, and the young midshipman was 

 sent aboard her with his luggage and his letter of appointment. Capt. 

 Corbiu, U. S. N., was at that time senior midshipman on the Fairfield, 

 and was instructed by the commanding oflficer to take the new comer 

 over the ship and show him the ropes, while the ofllcer commanding the 

 Malabar's cutler, which brought the embryo midshipman aboard, was en- 

 tertained by Capt. Lynch. 



Young Corbin took the new arrival for an Englishman from his accent 

 and carriage, and was very mucli astonished when the boat pulled back 

 to the Malabar, leaving McCauley aboard. This was the hitter's first ex- 

 perience of naval life. He served on board the Fairfield until 1844. 



A few months after his appointment as midshipman he was attacked by 

 typhus fever, through which malady his father nursed him unassisted 

 night and day to recovery : after which the whole family made a trip to 

 Tajoura (opposite Aden on the African side of the straits of Bab. el Man- 

 del) for rest and recuperation. Tney spent a month there, Edward navi- 

 gating the boat in which some of them cruised all day on the lake, while 

 his father was often watching with great anxiety for their return, as the 

 lake was dangerous and liable to sudden squalls. Shortly afterwards the 



