INTRODUCTION. xv 



had been a long time shipped, and had manifested their discontent in a letter 

 addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, in which they objected to being trans- 

 ferred to a younger and new set of officers. The plan I adopted was at once to 

 send them on shore on liberty, and thus show entire confidence in them. To 

 my great surprise, they returned, to a man, showing that no disposition adverse 

 to the service existed among them, and that the bad feeling was nothing more 

 than what might naturally be expected to result from a long confinement on 

 board of a ship, in sight of their homes, and the constant disappointment they 

 had met with in a delayed departure. From this circumstance, and the pros- 

 pect of no further detention, their spirits revived, and great activity prevailed in 

 all the departments to forward the preparations. All the instruments had been 

 brought from New York in the Macedonian, under care of Lieutenant Carr. 

 Part of them, including the Chronometers, had been landed at the Naval 

 Asylum, where a Portable Transit had been put up, for rating them. The 

 instruments appertaining to Magnetism and the Pendulums were carried to 

 Washington, to make the necessary experiments. 



The depot of charts and instruments on Capitol Hill, was selected to make 

 the series of observations at. These occupied my own time until sailing. 



On the 26th of July, Martin Van Buren, the President of the United States, 

 accompanied by Mr. Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, and Mr. Poinsett, Secre- 

 tary of War, did us the honour to visit the Vincennes. On this occasion, and 

 the only one during the continuance of my command, a salute was fired, (none 

 of the instruments had then been embarked,) by all the vessels, and the yards 

 were manned. This produced a good effect on all, for it showed us that a 

 watchful eye was kept over us, and that much interest was felt in the under- 

 taking. This visit formed an epoch to which I often heard reference made 

 during the cruise. Few are able to estimate the feelings of satisfaction that such 

 acts occasion to those engaged in undertakings like this. 



I shall now proceed to give a description of the vessels that composed the 

 Squadron. 



The Vincennes was a sloop of war, of seven hundred and eighty tons, origi- 

 nally single-decked, but in consequence of the intended cruise, a light deck was 

 put on her for the protection of the men, and to afford more room. The accom- 

 modations thus became those of a small frigate. 



The Peacock was of smaller size, a sloop of war of six hundred and fifty 

 tons, originally built for this service in 1828, with a deck like that of the Vin- 

 cennes. She had made two cruises previous to her sailing in 1838. 



