Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/77

51 were, and a happy riddance they considered it when he was landed at Copenhagen on his way to Stockholm.

What contributed to this was his behavior in the boat with Midn Ellery, who was sent with him to the opposite shore of the Strait on the Sweden side to see if he could get facilities of getting to Stockholm. The boat left on a fine morning and crossed the Strait to the Swedish shore, Mr Burrows taking passage in her. He did not meet with success. Before leaving he purchased a dozen duck and fowls as presents for the Wardroom mess. It came on to blow heavily with a rough sea, the boat made much water and Burrows became frightened. He begged and entreated Ellery to take in sail, offered him a pair of ducks & chickens, finally went down on his knees & would give him all the ducks & chickens. Ellery was somewhat eccentric in character—what was the use of his poultry to him when they might all be drowned in a few Minutes, & continued to carry sail. Finally they reached the ship just before dark, and the diplomat blessed his stars for his safety. The ducks and chickens had all been drowned, and it was with great difficulty the boat could be kept free by bailing with the men's hats. Ellery's relation of the trip served to give the Steerage a hearty laugh, and poor Burrows was considerably chopfallen. His conduct did not tend to raise him in the estimation of the officers.

The Guerrier was one of our finest frigates and of the largest class. We left Boston well stocked with provisions and much extra lumber incident to the passengers on board. It is usually thought that a large frigate has much room to spare, but with her complement of officers and men such is not the case, and for an effective Man of War it is necessary that every thing should have its place and be in place; judging by this rule, the Guerrier was very defective in all parts, and with a new crew very defective in order to discipline. To be sure it was a time of peace, but there is no telling when her service may be required for the country to maintain the honor of its flag.

We had a pleasant passage across the atlantic and were to stop at Cowes in the Isle of White [Wight]. Previous to our arrival & when in the Chops of the English Channel, we encountered several Men of War cruizing. It is the regulation of the Service that, on any Man of War coming in gun shot, the crew should go to quarters until it became established that she was of a friendly power. During the night about 11 o'clock we fell in with two Men of War and beat to quarters. The utmost confusion resulted; there was nothing prepared and scarcely any one knew his position. We had never been to quarters at night before, and, unprepared for such operations, confusion everywhere and nothing prepared or in its place. No lights in the battle lanterns, no tubs & casks for the gunners, and the gratings & powder boxes, match tubs, shot racks & the extra articles required were no where to be found. It was upwards of five minutes before the divisions were reported. I could not help admiring the coolness of Comdr McDonough on the occasion. The ships, two large frigates, passed within hailing distance of us. We pursued Our course, the breeze was light and the sea