ASSUME COMMAND OF THE ENTERPRISE. I9 



Starboard helm, having sounded in the morning in 2561 

 fathoms, lat. 14° 27' 40" S., long. 2,3° 46' 45'' W.; brown 

 ooze mixed with a few shells. We had experienced 

 beautiful sunsets for several days, but I think I never 

 before saw such a glorious one as that which we beheld 

 this evening. 



On the 27th sounded in 2492 fathoms, lat. 15° 2 7' 30" 

 S., long. 33° 57' 19" W., the cup bringing up a yellow- 

 ish-brown ooze. 



On the 28th we sounded in the morning in 2498 

 fathoms, lat. 16° 30' S., long. ^7,° 46' W. ; yellowish- 

 brown ooze. 



On March ist sounded in 2498 fathoms, lat. 17° 42' 

 10'' S., long. 33° 26' 26'' W. ; again yellowish-brown 

 ooze. 



It is worthy of note that the last two casts were the 

 same to a fathom and differed from that taken on the 

 27th by only six fathoms ; also, that the character of the 

 bottom was the same. 



The usual drills of a man-of-war were kept up rigor- 

 ously throughout the cruise, notwithstanding the extra 

 work of sounding. I find noted in my journal : " In the 

 afternoon had dress parade. Our companies did very 

 well indeed. I am proud of the apprentice-boys ; the 

 most of them are fine fellows." 



Let me add here that nearly nine years have passed 

 since that entry in my journal. Of the apprentices of 

 whom I was so justly proud some are now efficient war- 

 rant officers in the Navy, and others are filling impor- 



