Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/73

47 generally be tried before they are many days on board. I joined the Independence without knowing a soul on board, was, as I have before said, fortunate in joining the best mess. But I had not been four days on board before I was involved in a difficulty with an officer from Virginia, one of the Randolphs (T.M.), and before I had, in fact, become acquainted with anyone; but I had joined the service with a resolution of not permitting myself to be "run upon"— or any affront or insult permitted to be passed over without due notice. The affront came unexpectedly and undeserved and I made up my mind to require from Randolph an apology for his rudely closing the door in my face. I at once determined not to let it pass, but to resent it without breaking the rules of the Service was my first care. He saw by my manner that he had given me an offense and would be called upon to atone for it. As I had been but a few days aboard I was assigned my duty in Watch and at Quarters and waited until I understood Randolph was to go on shore. I then asked permission of absence and I received it. My manner in the meantime had been such as to assure him I was very much affronted; he saw & felt it as he afterwards told me. I went on shore and entering the Hotel (the old Exchange) at Boston, I saw him at a distance and went towards him to require his necessary explanation & apology. He advanced to me and before I could give utterance, he very nobly apologized for his rudeness, that it was entirely a mistake, and he had felt utterly ashamed of his conduct ever since, and requested I would think no more of it. This was enough for myself but it had been done before others in the Steerage, & I required him to state that he had apologized for it. This he did very openly and frankly before the mess and I was well satisfied; the affair passed and was forgotten.

Randolph and myself became intimate friends, made a cruise together as messmates in the Guerrier frigate, and were much together. He was a frank, noble fellow, quick and impulsive and was frequently in difficulties with others, and I was always appealed to as his friend and the difficulties he was ever ready to make amends for, if I thought he was in the wrong, & to make a suitable apology. Our intimacy was great, and we rarely took amusement on shore but we shared it together. He left the Service & married, but I believe rather unfortunately for he became much straightened in his circumstances and unfitted for a planter's life, which he attempted to follow. I never have had a more intimate friend in the service, or one to whom I felt greater attachment, whose principles I thought more highly of. He had the high chivalry which the Virginians generally possessed and, if he had continued in the Navy, would have made a highly esteemed officer.

There were many duties connected with the life of a Midshipman at that time which have since been happily done away with. I have reference to the police duties, or the recovery of deserters from the shore. The sailors were much addicted to desertion from the Boats on shore and shore parties and at times from the ship, escaping on the ice which surrounded her and went off for a frolic ashore. There were several Houses in Alleys at Boston which they frequented where dancing and