FORTER S JOUKNAL. 



ring the cruise would be altogether unnecessary. I direct- 

 ed, as a standing regulation, that the ship should be fumi- 

 gated in every part every morning, by pouring vinegar on 

 a red-hot shot, and confided to lieutenant Finch the super- 

 intendence of the birth-deck, in order to preserve it in a 

 cleanly and wholesome state. Lime being provided in 

 tight casks, for the purpose of white-washing, and sand for 

 dry-rubbing it, and orders given not to wet it if there 

 should be a possibility of avoiding it, a comfortable place 

 was fitted up for the accommodation of the sick on the 

 birth-deck ; elects were put up for shnging as many ham- 

 mocks as possible on the gun-deck ; and orders given that 

 no wet clothes or wet provisions should be permitted to 

 remain on the birth-deck, nor the crew be permitted to 

 eat any where but on the gun-deck, except in bad wea- 

 ther. Having established the above and other regulations, 

 as regarded the health and comfort of the crew, I exhorted 

 the officers to keep them occupied constantly during work- 

 ing hours, in some useful employment, and directed that 

 two hours, between four and six o'clock in the afternoon, 

 should be allowed to them for amusement, when the duties 

 of the ship would admit. 



The 30th was devoted entirely to airing the bedding, 

 drying the clothing of the crew that was wet during the 

 gale, getting the birth-deck in the most comfortable state, 

 exercising the crew at the great guns, and putting the ship 

 in the best state for service. We found the powder in se- 

 veral of our guns wet, all of which we reloaded, and more 

 carefully secured. 



Previous to leaving the Delaware, we landed at the hos- 

 pital the following men, whose health I did not conceive 

 would enable them to stand the fatigues of the cruise. As 

 they had most of them been a long time on the surgeon's 

 list, and were considered incurable, I believed it adviseable 

 not to take them to sea : to wit, William Stanwood, quar- 

 ter-gunner, John Francis, carpenter's yeoman, Charles 

 Frederick, Peter Johnson 2d, James Wallace, Charles 

 Smith, John Smith, John Anderson, seamen, and William 

 Hubbell, supernumerary. William Klaer, through mis- 

 take, was not sent. 



My crew, at the time of my departure, consisted of the 

 following persons : 



