ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by LEAVITT, TROW, & CO. In the Clerk's office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. HON. JOHN Y. MASON, SIR: SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY. THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES has always been regarded by the American people with a feeling of kindness and a desire to give to it a liberal support. It is this generous confidence of the nation which secures an elevated tone to the character of the naval officer, and gives to him a spirit of daring when called on for action, which renders him equal to any emergency connected with his profession. Success, as a consequence in the course of his duty, becomes almost a matter of course. The approbation of his Government and his own individual fame constitute the controlling motives of his action; and in meeting the responsibilities of his profession, his triumph or defeat becomes the standard by which his honor or disgrace is to be measured. It has been within my own opportunity, for a few years past, to note the spirit which prevails among our naval officers. And I am sure, that whatever may be their ties of earth in their social relations (and their attachments are as ardent as are those of any other class of men), they yet would regard at any moment, an opportunity to peril their lives in the accomplishment of an achievement which should accord glory to their country and individual fame to themselves, as an acceptable occurrence, and one they would gladly welcome and anxiously court. Let, then, the Government continue to this arm of its defence the support and the confidence, which heretofore it has liberally accorded, and I believe the people of these United States will never be disappointed by its individual or collected action, whenever it is called on to achieve deeds of arms, or to further by its protection the legitimate objects of an international commerce. At the head of such a Navy, it is your honor, sir, officially, to stand. And while I tender you THIS VOLUME, I am happy to know, that there is not only a high respect but also a positive feeling of personal kindness cherished towards you by the officers of the Navy. To this, allow me here to add the assurances of my own respectful consideration and esteem. New-York, October, 22d, 1847. FITCH W. TAYLOR. CONTENTS. Coincidence.-First view of the Frigate Cumberland.-Sadness in retro- spect.-Officers of the Navy leaving home.-Anticipation and disap- pointment.-The Mediterranean not always reached by those who set out for it.-Letter of the Captain and wardroom officers of the Cum- berland to Com. Read.—Com. Read's reply.—Sailing of the Frigate.— The Author will write as he feels.-Death of a Passed Midshipman.— The Frigate on her passage South.-Gale off the Bermudas.-Frolic of the wardroom furniture, and Lieutenants in the lee-scuppers.-The Gulf Stream.-The Frigate gains southing.-Fair weather.-Sab- bath services on the decks of a U. S. Frigate.—The ship still gaining southing.--Crossing the track of Columbus.-The noble Genoese and his emotions on making land and developing a new world.—Islands Hispaniola, Mona, the Mona Passage, Hayti, Flying-Fish, Lines, Cuba and Jamaica.—The love of adventure in an Indian youth.—Sail along the sunny isles of the West Indies.-Spring time before the first of March.-A Man-of-war always ready for action.-Doubtful rela- tions between the U. States and Mexico.-Beating to quarters at mid- night.-Appearance of land.—Reducing sail.--Salute, and mooring ship Complimentary boats from the British, French, and Spanish men-of war. Santiago. Improvement, as involving change, not an element of the Roman Catholic church.-Cathedral.—Chilénas at worship.-Altars.— Relics of Franciscus Xaverius or Francis Xavier.-Portrait of St. Je- rome. An altar to the sacred family.-Relics of Santa Feliciana en- closed in a glass case.-' Santiago. Beautiful canopy attached to the altar.-Its phantasmagoria effect at the elevation of the Host and celebration of high mass.-The mother and her daughter, beautiful resemblances.-Absence of pews in Catholic churches abroad, and equality of the worshippers.-Church dress. An abstraction.-Religious sympathies.-Some faces poetic.— Roman Catholic institutions the same every where, in Santiago and in Mexico.-Drive from Santiago to Valparaiso.-Cuésta del Padro.— Midway Fonda.-The Author not a Franciscan.-Catholic priests, abroad, generally marked by the tonsure, or small shaven spot on the crown of the head.-The frigate Columbia and her consort, the John Adams, in the harbor of Valparaiso.-A view of the bay-still-calm— men-of-war of different nations-location of the Essex, when, under command of Commodore Porter, she fought two British ships-French bugles playing for the Chilénas, while they are bathing. The fri- gate Columbia getting under way.—Many eyes from other ships mark- ing her evolutions.-Those evolutions described.-The frigate, with her sails set, like the flight of a water-fowl, takes her course out of the PERU.-Callao. The past and the present.-The Castle of Callao.--Pe- |