Life Of Hiram Paulding Rear Admiral U S N PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI VARIOUS SERVICES From 1830 to 1844, though constantly employed at sea, Paulding's life was comparatively uneventful. For two years he served in the Mediterranean as first lieutenant of the frigate Constitution, and in the same waters commanded the schooner Shark, of twelve guns, from 1834 to 1837. In February of 1837 he reached the rank of commander and commanded the sloop of war Levant, making a cruise in the West Indies. In 1841, for the first time in thirty years' service, he was given shore duty as executive officer of the New York Navy Yard under Commodore James Renshaw. In 1844 he was promoted captain and, in command of the sloop of war Vincennes, twenty guns, was sent to the East Indies in the squadron of Commodore James Biddle, U. S. frigate Columbus. This cruise, although full of interest in his visits to the then little known ports of China, was replete with anxiety and was the most dismal of his life. As condensed water was not known in those days, at times much risk was involved in taking water for the ship's use, and from a supply of impure water, taken on the coast of China, dysentery broke out among the crew, and a large number of the ship's company succumbed to the disease. Spared himself, Paulding's humane and generous heart was a constant prey to the keenest emotions witnessing the agonies he was powerless to relieve. He also was attacked by ophthalmia and was in danger of quite losing his sight. Owing to the return of Commodore Biddle to the United States on the frigate Columbus, Paulding was left in command of the Asiatic station, a duty he performed as he had ever performed all his duties, with zeal, discretion, and entire devotion to his country's interest. At that time the ports of Japan were closed to...