NIMROD OF THE SEA; OH, 



the British frigate Actceon, the French frigate Venus, two 

 armed brigs, one whaler besides ourselves, and a number of 

 merchantmen. These, with many native coasting-vessels, 

 and numerous boats pulling or sailing in various directions, 

 gave a life and importance to the port which we had not be- 

 fore witnessed on this side of the land. The brightness of 

 the scene was enhanced by a state visit of the President to 

 the North Carolina, and the British and French men-of-war. 

 The yards were manned the first time I had witnessed the 

 ceremony, and certainly, when done on a ship so grand in 

 her proportions as the North Carolina, it is majestic, and a 

 fitting honor rendered by one nation to the chief of another. 

 At the sound of the first gun of a national salute, seven hun- 

 dred men previously clustered about the masts ran out 

 on the yards, and standing erect, each with a hand on his 

 neighbor's shoulder, presented the beautiful sight of a pyra- 

 mid of men, reaching from the lower yards to the skysail of 

 each mast, their snow-white garments fluttering in the wind. 

 Thus they stood, while the smoke of the great guns clouded 

 the surface of the water, and the deep booms echoed in the 

 neighboring hills. 



The boat containing the President lay quietly on the wa- 

 ter; but as the last gun sounded, it moved toward the Ac- 

 tceon, when the magnificent spectacle was repeated on a 

 smaller scale. Here the French frigate took up the music, 

 and her guns awakened the echoes, and the mariners of 

 France fluttered, white as her lilies, against the ever-cloud- 

 less sky of Peru. Thus we were welcomed from our long 

 cruise to the port of Callao, and I hereby tender my grateful 

 acknowledgments of the deserved honor, which three great 

 nations united in rendering us. May they all grow in sense 

 and honesty, and may their powder always mingle fraternal- 

 ly as it did on this glorious May day ! 



After a few days spent in refitting ship, and getting off a 



