p465  XXXI.

The Broad Pennant is Lowered

Not since the China voyage, in 1787‑89, had John Barry been away from Sarah and Strawberry Hill for so long a time. From the day he sailed out of the Delaware, in July of 1799, until he reached Philadelphia, on April 3, 1800 — a ten months period — husband and wife had recourse only to infrequent letters, first, from Norfolk, and, later, from Newport. For six months, ever since the departure from Rhode Island the previous November, there had been no communication. Worn out by the long strain of the perilous battle with the elements in the Bay of Biscay, and the precarious return voyage, the Commodore would have welcomed an uninterrupted rest at his country home. His concern over the United States precluded any such pastoral retirement. Strawberry Hill, for several months, saw him chiefly over the week-ends. From Monday to Saturday, he was employed either on the frigate or in Philadelphia.

Reporting his arrival and his fears that the United States would require extensive repairs, he ordered Carpenter Morris to make a survey of the damage. Likewise, he wrote to Joshua Humphreys, out on the Lancaster road, to come in as soon as possible, sensing that the injuries to "my favourite" would be far deeper than a superficial examination by the carpenter would disclose. Because further service was indefinitely postponed, and the crew's time was about to expire, he ordered the majority of the hands discharged, retaining a total of ninety‑two officers, warrant officers and men. Captain Barron and Lieutenant Decatur were given leaves of absence, the former to go to his home in Virginia, the latter to sail as first lieutenant of the brig Norfolk, ordered on a short convoy cruise to St. Domingo.

 p466  In the midst of this reduction in personnel, the Commodore received two applications for posts on the frigate. They were delivered the same day, and he must have chuckled in contrasting their contents. One came from Samuel Chandler, who applied for a chaplaincy, and who explained that, while "Brought up in the Church of England, I often visit the Catholic Church and am always pleased with the devout and becoming attention observed in them." The other was from George Miller, formerly a seaman on the Constellation, who would think it a great honor to serve under Commodore Barry, provided the Commodore would get him out of "this Hole" of a country prison, where he languished "for being in a bit of Frolick at which time I had a little too much Grog on board." Later Chandler was appointed chaplain on the United States. If Miller secured his wish, upon which the record is blank, the new chaplain had one soul to wrestle with over the evils of intemperance.

Carpenter Morris made his report, on April 24. It confirmed Barry's worst fears. The frigate would require repairs which Morris was sure would take many men many months to complete. As Humphreys had arrived, the shipbuilder and the carpenter returned to Marcus Hook, and Barry awaited the verdict of the expert. It came on May 2: "I found most of the Wales Rotten. we shall be obliged to take out every thing from the extream end of the ship, which is of any weight to prevent her from straitening. The Anchors should be taken from her bows especially from where they are now stowed. Will you be pleased to direct it to be done, if you think it prudent, and to direct every thing to be moved amid­ships."

Resigned to the inevitable, Barry issued orders turning the frigate over to Humphreys for repairs. The latter had her moored beside a pier at Marcus Hook, and carpenters soon were swarming over her.

House carpenters, meanwhile, were being employed by the Commodore in remodeling his city home. Sarah had remonstrated against spending any or winters at Strawberry Hill, and they had decided to remain on their estate north of the city only during the summers. The Commodore certainly did not  p467 make this outlay for alterations from prize money, the division of which came with the return of the United States. John Leamy's prize agent account showed total receipts of $8,425.62, representing the crew's participation in the sale of the privateers Sans Pareil and Jalouse, taken in the summer of 1798, the privateer Le Tartuffe, taken in the spring of 1799, and the recaptures of the ship Cicero, sloop Vermont and schooner Maria in the same period. Barry's share was $886.88, a fraction better than ten percent.

Removal of the Navy Department to Washington left Barry in complete charge of naval matters in Philadelphia. Several times he had to call courts-martial on offending officers and seamen. Unlike Revolutionary days, however, he did not sit as a member of the court. How Lieutenant Charles Stewart escaped being hauled forth under charges is an interesting illustration of the Commodore's tolerance. That young gentleman had come up from the frigate in mid‑May to request a leave of absence. It had been refused, but, instead of returning to his duty, he had lingered in Philadelphia, and had appealed, over his commanding officer's head, to Secretary Stoddert. Several times Barry had suggested mildly to Stewart that he go down to the United States, but the hints had been ignored. Meeting his lieutenant on the street early in June, the Commodore showed surprise at his continued presence in Philadelphia.

"I am still hopeful, sir, you will grant me a furlough," Stewart replied.

"I have told you repeatedly that is impossible," Barry stated, adding a bit grimly, "and if you are not satisfied with that statement may I refer you back to the Secretary of the Navy to whom I understand you have already replied."

After that conversation, to learn that Stewart still loitered in the city was too much. A sharp letter, charging wilful neglect of duty, was placed in the lieutenant's hands on June 4. While in the wrong, Stewart had spunk. He would return on board, he wrote Barry, as his delay in Philadelphia had been longer than he had contemplated. Then he laid himself wide open to charges.

"For some time past, Sir," the lieutenant continued, "you have appear'd to be dissatisfied with me, and disposed to court occasions that might justify Reprimand; and in two or three  p468 instances your memory has betray'd you into a belief, that you gave me orders, which you never did; and thus I have been the object of your resentment, for a neglect of orders that never did exist; which has determined me to press the necessity of my removal to another Ship; for, I will no longer be the object of your unmerited Censure."

Because he liked Stewart and recognized his worth, the Commodore's only action was to request Stoddert to assign the young lieutenant elsewhere. Shortly after, the Secretary issued the transfer — to the schooner Experiment — and Barry acquiesced with the comment, "I hope he will be more active when he comds than when he is comd." With Stewart to the Experiment went Midshipman John Trippe, Jr., assigned as acting sailing master.

Only Lieutenants Somers and Meade remained. Barron was still in Virginia, and, on the Commodore's suggestion, was applying to Stoddert for a separate command. He was tired of an idle life, he wrote Barry, on June 4, "and wish for employment." To replace him on the United States, Stoddert sent Commander Cyrus Talbot, elder son of Captain Silas Talbot. Like his father, Talbot was a favorite with Adams. Fortunately, to avoid friction, his original commission as lieutenant placed him a few steps ahead of Somers, and his elevation to commander, on January 15, 1800, entitled him to the highest rank, under Barry, on the frigate. As in May, the Commodore had turned thirty seamen over to John Mullowny, who now commanded the Ganges, the total of around sixty hands on the United States did not overtax Talbot, Somers and Meade in the performance of their duties. Chief activities on board were to guard the ship's stores, and keep out of the way of the swarming carpenters.

In July, to secure the benefits of "batheing in the Salt Water," Barry, Sarah and her brother, Isaac Austin, journeyed to Long Branch, on the north Jersey coast, a favorite resort of those days. They would have taken Betsy Hayes with them, as Captain Patrick had sailed on a mercantile voyage to St. Thomas, but that young matron was awaiting an interesting event. Her joining them, as Sarah Barry explained, was "out of the question." For three weeks the venerable trio disported themselves sedately in the ocean. The salt water and sun  p469 bathing did the Commodore a world of good. Some of his asthmatic pains were baked out, and he returned to Strawberry Hill toward the end of July much refreshed in mind and body.

Two letters awaited him — one each from the Barron brothers, Samuel and James. The former, commanding the new frigate Chesapeake, had written despairingly from Bombay Hook a few days before that he had run ashore on the bar, that only lightening the ship would get her off, and that, to cap his troubles, he was being tortured by rheumatism. Off to Philadelphia rushed Barry to order the Delaware down to Barron's assistance. Before that vessel could sail, word came the Chesapeake had arrived safely at New Castle. Continuing to Marcus Hook, the Commodore inspected the progress on the United States. It was not encouraging. Aware it would be long before he could get her to sea, he returned to Strawberry Hill, on July 29, to find Stoddert inquiring also about the frigate's situation.

With recollections of the disparaging remarks administration leaders had made of his own squadron's activities in the West Indies the previous year, the Commodore concluded the letter with his tongue in his cheek: "It is very distressing to me to be confined so long in port when my contry is Suffering so much by captures . . . I am very much Surprised when I hear that so many of our merct vessels is captured and our Public Vessels lying in Basateerº road and it is a scandle to the United States and a reflection on the officer that Comds."

Letters to the Barron brothers concluded the day's epistolary efforts. To Captain Samuel, Barry extended congratulations upon getting the Chesapeake off the bar and to a safe harbor. The ending was a cordial invitation to spend a few days at Strawberry Hill, where "if you think it will be of any service to your pain we will cover you with ice." To Captain James,  p470 the Commodore described progress on the United States, urged his protégé anew to show himself at Washington so the Secretary would not forget him, and asked for thirty or forty copies of the new signals being struck off at Norfolk. Profiting by Barry's advice, Barron, shortly afterwards, was given command of the twenty gun ship Warren, at Boston.

Through August and September, the Commodore was involved more in navy personnel matters than with his frigate. There were idle ships in the river off New Castle — the Chesapeake, Delaware and Scammel — and, as usual, troubles, bred in the tropics, flared into charges, counter-charges and the inevitable courts-martial. Barry called the latter, assigned the officers to sit as judges, forwarded the findings to Secretary Stoddert, and, when the latter had approved, notified the defendants of the verdicts. There were occasional acquittals, but usually it devolved upon the Commodore to dismiss or suspend the culprit from the service.

Once, by an unexpected investigation, Barry unearthed a bit of persecution and took matters into his own hands. It happened early in August. He rode into Marcus Hook one morning, routed out Lieutenant Somers, and hauled him along into the frigate's launch.

"We're bound for New Castle, Mr. Somers," he explained as the crew bent to the oars. "There are a half-dozen seamen on the Delaware, who have been in irons for more than a month. Charged with mutiny, they are, and I have my doubts about it."

To Somers we are indebted for the facts. Barry boarded the sloop-of‑war off New Castle that afternoon, and proceeded to investigate. Commander J. A. Spotswood and his officers produced their charges and their evidence. Not satisfied, the Commodore went down into the brig and talked to the prisoners. His conclusion was that there was "no proof against them." He ordered them liberated and the charges dismissed. Out into the August sunshine came the freed men. Barry and Somers were just departing, and the latter was thrilled as "the poor fellows on . . . seeing the Commodore gave him three cheers."

Through the summer, Humphreys's carpenters worked expeditiously. Lieutenant Somers, bored by existence at Marcus Hook as "living out of the world and no news circulating," reported, on August 13, that "the Starboard side is finish'd & the  p471 larboard side up to the ports." A month later, the United States hauled off into the stream, delighting the lieutenant, who felt an end had come to "my long and tiresome continuance on Shore." Once rid of carpenters, rerigging proceeded rapidly. By mid‑October, Barry could inform the Navy Department, that he was ready to receive a crew. Orders to open a rendezvous in Philadelphia came from Stoddert, on October 25. The Commodore was directed to sign on 120 able seamen and 172 ordinary seamen and boys. They were to be entered for a year "from the ship's first weighing anchor on a cruise."

"You will be pleased to let me hear from you from time to time," concluded the Secretary, "& communicate the progress you may be making in the preparation of your ship."

With two months' advance pay allowed, recruiting moved along merrily, while Robert Gill, the navy storekeeper, kept a continuous flow of supplies and equipment going down to the frigate. Carpenter Morris's book is filled with items of activity, from lining airports to building a cow house, pig pen, sheep pen, hen coops and "two guse coops." The Commodore was preparing for good ventilation and plenty of livestock and poultry.

With the brig Norfolk back from her convoy cruise, Stephen Decatur, Jr., returned to duty on the frigate. Another officer, John Galven, was assigned to replace Lieutenant Stewart. The commissioned personnel under Barry consisted of Commander Cyrus Talbot, and Lieutenants Somers, Decatur, Meade and Galven in that order of seniority. Then there were Surgeon Cutbush, Chaplain Chandler and Lieutenant of Marines William M'Cleary, the latter repla­cing John Darley, who had resigned on October 31.

While many former midshipmen had been commissioned and assigned to other vessels, the complement of youngsters was filled up quickly. Fathers who consigned their sons to the sea were desirous their off‑springs' training should begin under John Barry. One of these was young Charles Miles, son of Colonel Samuel Miles, of Revolutionary fame. The senior Miles procured the lad's transfer from the Delaware to the United States as soon as he learned the Commodore was preparing for sea. The greatest tribute to Barry, however, came from Benjamin Stoddert. The Secretary may have criticized the results of the Commodore's West India cruises, but, on November 24, he ordered  p472 his own son, young B. F. Stoddert, to Philadelphia to serve as a midshipman on the United States. Actions frequently speak louder than words.

Accompanying young Stoddert from Georgetown was another lad, Midshipman Walter Boyd, the "widow's son." The pair, along with Charles Miles and the older midshipmen took up their studies under Chaplain Chandler in the schoolroom on the lower deck. A proficient instructor was Chandler, who had "taught the mathematics and French language, after graduating in the University of Cambridge."

As November ended, the frigate dropped down below New Castle. Barry remained at Strawberry Hill to await his sailing orders from Stoddert. They reached him about December 2, being dated at Washington three days earlier. He was to proceed to St. Christopher, and assume command of the squadron on the Guadaloupe station, "taking under convoy any merchant vessels ready to proceed for the Windward Islands." It would be his duty "to protect our commerce to all the islands and to guard our merchant vessels against depredations from Porto Rico as well as from Guadaloupe and other dependencies of France." While rumors were rife of peaceful negotiations between the American envoys and the French republic, there was nothing definite, and the status of the war that was not a war remained unchanged. Stoddert listed ten ships-of‑war that would be under the Commodore's command. They represented the most formidable armament yet gathered into a single squadron under the American flag.

In the bitter winter morning of Wednesday, December 10, 1800, Barry gathered a weeping Sarah into his arms, assured her he was well able physically for the arduous duties of another period at sea, and departed for Philadelphia. But he was  p473 not a well man, and, next day, a piteous letter followed him from his distraught wife.

That heart-rending farewell reached the Commodore on the United States, on December 14, as the frigate weighed anchor off New Castle, and stood down the river — West India bound.

* * *

Dr. Edward Cutbush, the frigate's surgeon was a man of talents. His mind reached beyond pill and pestle into scientific realms. Particularly had he been intrigued by a pamphlet issued by the American Philosophical Society, which dealt with thermometric navigation, and the discoveries in that field by the late Dr. Franklin and others.⁠a The surgeon's ambition was to contribute something of note to the earlier observations, so he purchased a sea thermometer, and discussed his idea with the Commodore. Barry was interested, even to the point of allowing Cutbush to invade the sacred precincts of the ship's quarter gallery at any hour of the day or night to prosecute his investigations. This was a tremendous concession, as the quarter gallery was peculiarly the exclusive domain of the Commodore. Out of the surgeon's bent for scientific exploration and Barry's cooperation there evolved one of the strangest ship's logs that has ever been written. The title Cutbush gave it was "A Thermometrical Journal of the temperature of the Atmosphere and Sea; on a Cruise from the Capes of Delaware, to the West Indies; on board the Frigate United States." On the left hand pages were columns for days, hours of observations, temperature  p474 of air and of sea, latitude and longitude; on the right hand page, more columns for the course and distance sailed, and a broad space for remarks.

This remarkable journal was begun by Cutbush on the morning of December 16, off Cape Henlopen, and "About 5 leagues distant from the Light-house." The frigate had gone out through the capes the night before. Meticulously the surgeon made his entries, generally at three hour intervals. On the morning of December 21, well east of the Virginia capes, he hove the thermometer for a reading and was jubilant at the result, for "We are certainly in the Gulf stream, the Thermometer has risen 15° since yesterday at noon." Alas for scientific experimentation! On the day before Christmas, some 300 miles east of Hatteras, Cutbush wrote feelingly: "This Morning I was so unfortunate, as to discover my Sea Thermometer broken."

A few days later, in a storm, Lieutenant M'Cleary, of the marines, was hurled to the deck, sustaining a small scratch on his leg, "No bigger than an eleven penny nail." Because it was so insignificant he disdained having it cauterized. His neglect was fatal, for "a mortification ensued, and put an end to his life in the course of a week." The unfortunate lieutenant of marines died on the last day of the old year.

Without benefit of thermometric observations, and without a lieutenant of marines, the Commodore sailed southward. To his delight, the United States had retained all her splendid sailing qualities. She stood along the lane to the West Indies, reeling off the knots as she had done in the past. Just north of the tropic of Cancer, in 64° west longitude, she gave chase to a vessel which seemed bent upon avoiding her. They found their quarry an American brig, from New England, bound to the West Indies, but captured by a French privateer twenty-four hours earlier.

"We took her in tow," recited one of the frigate's officers, "but had to cast her off on account of her making a great deal of water, and our sailing too fast for her. The Commodore ordered her into St. Kitts." That is all we know of Barry's first and last prize on this, his last cruise in the West Indies.

The Commodore and his frigate entered the Nineteenth Century and the tropics simultaneously. As sun and heat increased in intensity, he bethought himself of an oft‑desired luxury. Carpenter  p475 Morris turned from the making of spitting boxes to comply with Barry's request, and, on January 8 and 9, 1801, contrived and hung Venetian blinds at the cabin windows. Five days later, with his broad blue pennant flying, the Commodore cast anchor in Basseterre road on the south coast of St. Christopher to find not a single American warship in the harbor. He was in the best of health. Illness which had marked his departure from the Delaware had been shaken off "after being six days at sea."

Thomas Truxtun, commanding the new frigate President, came in next day, having sprung maintop and foretopgallant masts in an un­success­ful chase. He welcomed Barry as his successor in command,⁠b expressed a determination to return to the states, and gave his superior the distribution of the squadron. Two new frigates, the Philadelphia, Captain Decatur, and New York, Captain Morris, each of thirty‑six guns, were to windward of Martinico . . . . . . the Chesapeake, Samuel Barron, of thirty‑six guns, and Trumbull, Captain Jewett, of twenty-four guns, were off Porto Rico, and the Warren, James Barron, of twenty guns, and Enterprize, Lieutenant Sterrett, of twelve guns, were near St. Bartholomew. These, with the President, accounted for seven of the ten vessels Stoddert had said were in the squadron. There were no more, Truxtun assured him, adding that the Chesapeake and Enterprize were under orders to return to the United States by February 1, and the Trumbull, by February 15. Barry, with visions of his troubles in the spring of 1799, wondered whether, with this shortage of ships, he again would be expected to perform miracles or reap administration criticism.

According to Truxtun, the French authorities at Guadaloupe had proclaimed peace and had supplied him with a copy of their proclamation. He had replied he had no official account from the United States, but would "be animated by a strong desire to anticipate the friendly wishes of the President . . . toward France, and to bury in oblivion every animosity between the two Nations & their citizens." He sent a translation of the proclamation to Barry, on January 16, remarking: "The present Seems to be a moment that requires great thought and exactitude of Conduct in French Affairs . . . You will no doubt See the necessity of keeping these French people in good humour,  p476 at least So as to prevent their privateers, Committing great depredations on our Commerce, which they have already given orders by their proclamation to Cease from."

With a good‑by to Truxtun, who would be gone before his return, the Commodore sailed out of Basseterre road, on January 18, heading south to the leeward of the islands. Surgeon Cutbush, having procured a sea thermometer, resumed his thermometrical researches from the quarter gallery, to find that temperatures around the islands varied no more than three degrees whether in the water or in the air. And this was true also of the waters off Guadaloupe, where Lieutenant Somers gives us the briefest of descriptions of a formal visit paid by Barry to the city of Basse Terre. Wrote Somers:

"the French had all there Soldiers drawn up to Receive the Commodore & the Ratification of peace — the forts Ready to fire a Salute."

But Barry could reply only as had Truxtun. He knew nothing of peace, but there would be no offensive action by his squadron as long as the French republic adhered to the principles of its own proclamation. Somers failed to enlighten further on the visit, being diverted to comments on the Guadaloupe market, where flour was "at 40 Solls a Br [barrel] Beeff at 20 Dlls." Returning toward St. Christopher, they touched at Antigua, and anchored in Basseterre road on February 1.

In the roadstead were four of Barry's squadron — the Philadelphia, New York, Warren and Enterprize — who received him "very politely by Manning the Yards and Cheering us." Also, there were dispatches from Stoddert, one of which confirmed the peace report — a treaty had been negotiated and was, on December 30, when he wrote, being considered by the Senate. The Secretary's orders were to "treat the armed vessels of France, public or private, exactly as you find they treat our trading vessels."

Of greater concern than French affairs was a dispute with Captain Nash, of the British sloop-of‑war Hornet. A man belonging to the Enterprize had been seized by the British captain. Lieutenant Sterrett had sent Midshipman Robert C. Rosseter to the Hornet with a protest, and that young gentleman had affronted Nash, apparently by the vehemence of his insistence that the American seaman be liberated. This had happened  p477 before Truxtun's departure, and the latter had ordered Rosseter under arrest, "to ascertain facts, punish him if it was his fault and cause Justice done him by an honorable acquittal if it was not." Truxtun was sure, "If these matters are suffered to pass unnoticed the British officers will again attempt the taking of men out of some of the ships." Barry refused to get excited about the matter. He had talked with young Rosseter, with Lieutenant Sterrett and with Captain Nash. Maybe it was the diplomacy of superior force, but, anyhow, the seaman was returned to the Enterprize, and Rosseter was restored to duty without the necessity of a court-martial.

Lieutenant Somers, writing home on February 1 by the Enterprize, told of the good spirits in the squadron with a number of officers of other ships dining on the United States. He attempted his letter amid the conversation of these "Broth[er] Officers," and confessed he could not "Carlect one Idea."

Five days later, the United States again cleared the port in company with the Philadelphia, New York and Warren. Each was bound for a separate cruising ground, but their ways paralleled for some leagues during which the frigate, as usual, pulled far ahead. Again Barry stood southward, stretching clear down to Martinico, and coming back to the windward of the islands. Then he hauled to leeward toward St. Thomas, and, about February 16, spoke the Trumbull inbound from Porto Rico. They started back for St. Christopher, and soon the Trumbull was hull down astern. Richard Somers was elated with the frigate's continued prowess as a sailer, and delighted with the whole American fleet as contrasted to the English vessels in those seas.

Alas, Somers voiced a thought prevalent in the squadron — what was happening in the United States where a Democratic  p478 administration was coming in to replace John Adams not Federalists?

"I suppose by the time you Receive this there will be grant allerationsº with you," he remarked, "a new President & Secretary of the Navy — We are all anxious to hear the news."

That letter went northward by the Trumbull, making a further reduction in Barry's force, which now consisted of the United States, Philadelphia, New York and Warren. All were at sea, as the Commodore's stay at St. Christopher was of the briefest duration. For the third time, he sallied southward, circling Guadaloupe and returning to windward. In Basseterre road, when he arrived on March 2, were all vessels of his squadron, plus the Ganges and revenue cutter Eagle. John Mullowny came on board from the Ganges to pay his respects to his old commander, and to request a survey of his vessel, which had been severely damaged by storms on her southward passage from Boston. Barry complied. That same day a board comprising the Commodore, Captains Decatur and Morris and Commander Talbot, with the carpenters of all ships in port, judged the Ganges "unfit for Sea."

Two days later, the United States sailed, again bound southward. Off Martinico, on March 9, a letter came on board from James Murphy, an old friend now established as a merchant at St. Mennes. A fleet was collecting and Murphy wanted the frigate to safeguard them past Guadaloupe, particularly several vessels owned by the merchant and James Crawford, of Philadelphia. The Commodore agreed and saw the merchantmen safely on their way past St. Christopher.

When Barry came into Basseterre road, on March 21, the little town was seething with excitement. A letter from a merchant, Robert Thomson, explained the turmoil. There were reports of a French expedition fitting out against either Antigua or St. Christopher, and not an English warship was in the harbor. The merchant wanted to know if Barry's orders would permit him to aid them in repelling attack.

"If you are not restricted from giving us such assistance," Thomson concluded, "I think we may eat our Diners tomorrow in peace & safety, & therefore I will beg the favour of you to come ashore & dine with me."

The Commodore went ashore and enjoyed the dinner, even if  p479 he could not promise Thomson to aid in the defense of St. Christopher. Fortunately, for the peace of mind of the inhabitants, the feared French attack proved but a groundless rumor.

By then instructions were on the way from Washington to the squadron commander. Thomas Jefferson had gone into office, on March 4, 1801, and one of the early acts of the new administration was to recall the whole West India fleet. The orders, sent off March 23, directed Barry to "call home all the ships in the West Indies." He, in the United States, was to "make the best of your way, to Philadelphia." The recall was received at St. Christopher on the morning of April 12. the Commodore had just come in from another cruise around Guadaloupe. Instructions went off to all his captains, and, at six o'clock the same evening, Barry was already off St. Eustatia, homeward bound, with Surgeon Cutbush busily engaged in the quarter gallery recording temperatures on his sea thermometer.

* * *

To that remarkable "Thermometrical Journal" are we indebted for an account of the last homeward cruise of the United States under John Barry. No mishaps marred its recordings. From St. Christopher to Cape Henlopen it is complete with its numerous readings of temperatures, latitudes, longitudes, courses and distances. Sixty-four sea miles the first day, with Virgin Gorda five miles off to the southeast at the conclusion of the twenty-four hour period; 156 miles the second day, with the weather squally and a heavy sea running; 106 miles the third, bucking "a Heavy head sea from the Northward and West"; and 148 miles the fourth, with "large quantities of Gulf-weed seen." Banner run of all was in the twenty-four hours between noons of April 16 and 17 — 220 miles, an average of better than nine knots an hour.

From the entries, Cutbush seemed to grow excited as they neared the Gulf Stream. Here is where theory was subject to test, and he decided to take the temperature of the water every hour. From dawn to sunset, there was no peace for the Commodore. The surgeon and his thermometer kept bobbing in and out of the quarter gallery.

"I now suppose we are in the Gulf stream," he wrote on April 19. The rise of the temperature proved this, but what pleased  p480 Cutbush more was the disproval of one of Dr. Franklin's conclusions. Franklin had observed that Gulf Stream did "not Sparkle in the night." Cutbush found that it did. When, on the afternoon of April 20, the thermometer dropped nineteen degrees, he rushed to Barry. It was foggy. Certainly, said he, land must be at hand. The Commodore sniffed but agreed to sound. The lead showed no bottom with eighty fathoms of line. They sounded through the night, finally reaching bottom at fifty fathoms. The morning of April 19 disclosed Cape Henlopen off to the northwest. A pilot came on board in the afternoon, but heavy wind, "with thunder and lightning," kept them at sea another day.

The United States came to anchor off Chester, in the Delaware, on April 28, and Cutbush recorded proudly, "I am convinced from the above experiments, in addition to those of Dr Franklin, Jonathan Williams, Esqr and others that the Thermometer may become an Instrument of great Utility in the hands of Navigators." Maybe so, but Surgeon Cutbush's journal has laid, dust covered and neglected, on a shelf in the American Philosophical Society for more than a century.

* * *

From Philadelphia, on the evening of April 28, Barry forwarded a letter to Washington, a reporting the arrival of the United States in the Delaware, and asking for further instructions. Continuing to Strawberry Hill, he settled himself to await word from the new administration, with Sarah hoping against hope he would not be called back to the frigate. She was due for disappointment. Orders arrived early in May from Henry Dearborn, Jefferson's Secretary of War, who was acting for the Navy Department until a Secretary was selected. The Commodore was directed to take the United States around to Washington, "where it is intended she shall be laid up."

Commander Talbot and Lieutenant Somers were on leave, and Lieutenant Galven came up from the frigate to ask for his discharge rather than sail around to the Potomac, and have to pay his own way back to Philadelphia. Barry granted his request and ordered Somers back on duty. The latter went on board at Chester, on May 15, and dropped down to Grubb's landing that day, proceeding to New Castle the next. The Commodore  p481 reached New Castle the same afternoon. His arrival was a "great satisfaction to me," said Somers, "being commanding Officer at that time, and no Accidents happening."

Ahead in the stream lay Patrick Hayes's schooner, and Barry's nephew joined his uncle for a pleasant evening on the frigate. With "a fine leading breeze from the Westw'd," the United States weighed on May 17. The passage down the bay, along the coast, through the Virginia capes, and up the Chesapeake and Potomac was un­event­ful. On May 23, the Commodore announced his presence in the eastern branch of the latter river, several miles below the national capital. The frigate, he explained, could proceed no farther until lightened. Two schooners came alongside later. By June 3, they were laden deep with the frigate's gear, many of her guns and most of her ammunition.

At noon that June 3, distinguished company visited the United States — President Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, and Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. They made but a brief stay, and, on their departure, Barry saluted the President, "as the first magistrate of the American people."

Although lightened about 700 tons, the last stages of the trip to the new navy yard wasº fraught with difficulties. The United States was ashore several times; once so high, as Somers explained, "that she sued [surged?] •seven feet, You may Judge in what heaving we must have been." Three days of this and they were off the navy yard at last. Ashore went Barry to inquire his way through the backwoods settlement that was the nation's capital, until he found the Navy Department. It was still a department without a Secretary. Dearborn was continuing as acting head, and it was Dearborn, who, on June 6, wrote finis to the naval services of the Commodore.

That afternoon, the broad blue pennant floated downward from the masthead, and John Barry left forever that frigate United States, whose career had been tightly woven with his own since the time he had seen her keel laid more than six years before.

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Thayer's Notes:

a A vignette of Ben Franklin conducting his thermometric investigations on an Atlantic crossing is given to us in E. S. Ferguson, Truxtun of the Constellation, p56.

b See the parallel account in E. S. Ferguson, Truxtun of the Constellation, p212.

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