Documents on the Disposal of Vitiated Naval Rations

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This webpage reproduces items found in
Life in a Man-of‑War
by
a Fore‑top-man

published by
Houghton Mifflin Company
Boston and New York
1927

The text is in the public domain.

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and I believe it to be free of errors.
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[Documents relating to the disposal of vitiated naval rations, 1841]

The following images are tipped in after p236 of Life in a Man-of‑War by a Fore‑top-man (1841, from the 1927 edition); for details, see my note to p61 of the book.

Captain Turner's Orders
for a Survey on the Rice and Whiskey Aboard the Store Ship Relief

Transcription:

U. S. Ship Constitution

Bay of Callao, June 21st 1841.

Gentlemen,

You are directed to hold a strict and careful Survey upon the "Rice" and "Whiskey" complained of within and report to me agreeably to the Regulations of the Navy Commissioners.

Very Respectfully

Yr Obt. Servt.

[signature:] Dan Turner

Captain

Comdt Pacific Squadron

Lieut. Jno. M. Berrien
		
   "   Barrett Shepard
		
Purser Philo White

Report of the Officers Holding the Survey

Transcription:

U. S. Store Ship "Relief,"

Callao, June 22d, 1841.

Sir:

In obedience to your order of yesterday's date, we have repaired on board this Ship, and held "a strict and careful survey" on "five barrels of Rice, and five barrels of Whiskey", reported as bad by the Special store keeper; and find that the Rice is badly injured by weavils, and entirely unfit to be served out as rations: we therefore recommend that it be thrown overboard.

The whiskey appears to have been mixed with vinegar and salt water, and is consequently, of so bad a quality, that, in our judgement, it is unfit to be issued to the crew: we would therefore recommend that it be disposed of in such manner as, in the discretion of the Commanding Officer, may best subserve the public interest.

We are, very respectfully,

Your Mo. Obedt. Servts,

[signatures:] Jno. M. Berrien Lieut

[unreadable]

Philo White, Purser

To Capt Danl Turner
		
Comdg U. S. Squadron
		
in the Pacific

To be thrown overboard

[signature:] Dan Turner

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