Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/60

34 from a severe wound he had received in his hip, yet he moved about with activity and was entirely at home on board ship. He had an intelligent face, sharp and swarthy, and although small [illegible] in looks, his manners were very gentlemanly and address good. He spoke English with fluency and it was difficult to detect any foreign idioms in his speech although the whole exterior of the individual showed he was of foreign birth. He took a great fancy to me and was assiduous in promoting my interest and during his command of the ship I was noticed and instructed by his intelligence and information on Naval matters which have been of infinite use to me in my profession.

My brother Henry, who was thought to be in a decline or bad health & my father wished to give him the benefit of a Sea voyage, took passage in the Emulation and altho' my situation on board did not admit of much intercourse with him, yet it was a great pleasure and comfort to me to have him on board. After a favorable passage, we arrived safely at Havre where the Ship was detained some time. The change of Captains took place and Captain Parker determined he would install me as 2nd Mate in which, altho' no great promotion, I felt great gratification, as much so as any I have ever experienced in the Navy.

While the Ship was in Port we had considerable difficulty with the Custom House officers occurring from the fact of one of the passengers having a large quantity of Segars [cigars] which had not been entered and of which the authorities had obtained information. It was only discovered that such was the case a day before the search was made. Captn Parker informed me of it and said they must not be found on board for the ship would probably be condemned or heavily fined, and he trusted to me to have them concealed. I felt very adverse to having anything to do with the business, but became satisfied that there was no blame to be attached to him. There was a large number of these segars stowed away in one of the passengers' rooms. There was no time to be lost. As the ship was in Dock, they could not be thrown overboard, and there was no way to hide them. I was put to my wit's end. An empty demijohn was nearby and suggested to me the idea that it might be filled and would well conceal them; accordingly I took charge of them and disposed of them in this manner. I was aware it was running a great risk but as there was nothing else to be done, it had to be resorted to; and, As we had a number of them empty from the storeroom, they were brought into the Steerage and filled with paper and clothes, to prevent them from being shaken out. The first and nearest at hand was left not quite empty, a few glasses in it; and the others so disposed as not to excite suspicion.

I well recollect the approach of the officers and the apparent avidity with which they came on board. I affected quiet and, at the same time, great nonchalance. Speaking French, I was able to understand their consultation and after some ceremony of exhibiting their papers to me, I was directed to give up the Keys and open the hatches. In port (docks) there is no fire permitted on board vessels. The crews are either boarded ashore or hire a cook-house, although they do duty