Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/59

33 whites of the lower classes wandering about listlessly or lying sleeping in their piazzas or in their halls.

I shall now return from this digression to my situation on my return. My father wished to still give me all the advantages in his power by a continuation of my studies in the French and Spanish Masters, as well as in Mathematics and in drawing, and in directing my attention to what he deemed would be useful to me in the acquisition of knowledge in the line of life I had chosen. Application continued to be made for my appointment as Midshipman but with little hope of success. Politics had something to do with this; my father and his friends belonged to the federal party and consequently had little influence at Court, so to speak, but the time was passing and I felt somewhat restive of employment. A vessel, ship, called the Emulation, in which some friends of the family were part owners, was fitting out for a voyage and a Captain Destiberdron, who was to command it, was spoken to and agreed to take me with him as third Mate after he had ascertained that I was capable through the letters of my friend Captain Cranston of the Calpi. Thus I was provided with another ship. The Emulation was a fine Ship of upwards of 500 tons. I was enrolled on the Articles and assumed my duties. Capt Parker of Connecticut went as Chief Mate and I was under his direction and [he] proved a very kind friend and good teacher. This gave me a great insight into the manner of stowing cargo, keeping the ship's log book and the receiving of cargo and making out bills of lading, as well as preparing the ship stores and general outfit of a vessel.

I saw little of the Capt Destiberdron, who was a Frenchman of some note and an experienced officer, having served in the French Navy until the War of 1812. Then he took command of a very fine and formidable sloop of war, fitted out from Bordeaux, and was very efficient in making captures as a privateer. She mounted some 16 guns of Brass, which at that time was considered a very formidable cruiser and proved successful in cruising. The war ending, he had been thrown out of employment & was now returning to France in the Emulation as nominal captain. Capt Parker, who was to succeed to the Command on arrival out, did all the duties of the vessel as respects the Sailing and working; Capt Destiberdron, however, gave much of his attention to the Navigation and discipline. I was much struck with the order and harmony that reigned aboard, and altho' I was not able then to know to what to impute it, yet it was too evident to all the crew that good order & discipline was to be observed. There was no harassing of the crew and a willingness to perform the duties required of them and obedience readily shown, yet the crew was composed of the ordinary kind of sailors. Swearing was not permitted and all spirits had been taken from those who had smuggled it on board.

Capt D. was of small stature and was very lame, having become so