The Carpenter's Christmas Recollection

From the journal of Jas. Apple, Ship's Carpenter:

While serving as ships carpenter onboard the HMS Acasta, Capt. Freymann and our Doctor would gather the bo’sun and myself with detailed instructions on how to decorate the ship for Christmas day. We would set about then in the black of night, tying any manor of festive things above deck and aloft, and if by chance we had made land in recent time, and that not being very often as I remember, any sort of greenery would be taken aboard by a select landing party, hand picked for being almost mute to gossip, the trophies to be taken bellow.

The Bo’sun, Mr. Cullen and myself would store it all upon the orlop deck, those prizes to be festooned on Christmas eve. And all those below, broken into their messes, would take all manners of trifles, hair ribbons. Colored cloth tied in bows and the like, trying to not be out smarted and anything that could was gleefully bespangled.

Our Gun Capt. Mr. Dubbeld would always get a cross look on his face when discovering that his crews had dressed the cannons for the occasion, but that soon lifted after the third toast was made. And at times it was as if we were, at least for a moment, back home with those that bore us. But I must confess that from all my Christmas’s before and since, those are some of the ones that sing in my heart still.

A Letter Home

This letter has been translated from its original French:

Messer. Francois Rochambeau 
Hotel Marzon

Market Street

New Orleans

Dear Sir, 

I was most gratified to receive the package you sent to me by Messer LeDuc in Halifax. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Perhaps your fondness for your Godsons has overcome your sense of  economy to my benefit?  Of course you know I say this in jest, as you have always shown the most generous love for myself and my family. My one consolation is that my family is safe in your care.

What strange fortune, ever my lot, that after declining employment under Captain Morreau's letter of marke I should find myself under arms in the ranks of his opposition. May the Blessed Virgin forbid that I should ever find myself in conflict with my brother, for Vance did take up the offer.

When I  saw that there was no possibility to avoid being pressed I went ahead and volunteered. Without the small pay advance that came with this I should have been left with only the clothes I was wearing. Your kind gifts have lifted my spirits more that you can ever know. This pistol, it is the one you killed the rabid wolf in the orchard with so long ago, is it not? The sailors tell me that if we must become boarders we will be issued cutlasses, but I shall be glad to have a pistol also.  The cheese, smoked tongue and pate I have shared with the fellows of my mess. Good generous fellows they are too. After being among them even this short while I marvel at why our kings were always at odds. 

Since the emperor has sold us for Americans these years past should I wish them for victors in this war?  I think not- for I am entitled to a portion of the profit for each American ship we take. Prize money it is called, perhaps not as great a profit as in the crew of a corsair, but potentially much better than that of a common sailor. The sailors are hopeful of taking many such prizes before the war's end.

Already I have bettered my lot beyond a common sailor. I am now the surgeons mate, just as I was in the Belle Lorraine, Cerf and Van Blough. The surgeon seems a good fellow, not at all like old Barbe of the Lorraine. I have yet to see him drunk, and he has been kind to me so far. He is also a man of science. I should think that you and he, and dear Messer. Duval, could have many an interesting discussion.

I have enclosed a separate letter for Marie. How I miss her already! And my sons! How I hope this war should be at an end before they have forgotten me! I will be grateful for your reading the letter to her. Tell her nothing of prize money and taking American ships, for I do not wish her to worry. 

I am sir, as always, in your debt, 

Baptiste

Patrick O'Brian's ACASTA

It's no secret that we here at HMSACASTA.com are huge fans of Patrick O'Brian and the Aubrey-Maturin series. When reading through the books, I discovered that the Acasta makes a couple of cameos. So today, in honour of what would have been Mr. O'Brian's 99th birthday, here are the 'O'Brian-verse' connections to our particular favourite ship!

SPOILER ALERT: You're about to read some very LIGHT, semi-spoilery info from The Fortune of War, Treason’s Harbour, and The Hundred Days.

From the WikiPOBia:

Acasta is one of a series of ships in the Aubrey-Maturin series whose commands are promised to Captain Jack Aubrey by the Admiralty, but are ultimately given to other, more influential officers. Another such ship, promised to Aubrey but never delivered, is the fictional frigate HMS Blackwater.

The Admiralty’s promise of Acasta is first made to Aubrey in The Fortune of War. She is described by Aubrey to his friend Maturin as a "forty-gun frigate, pretty well the heaviest in the service … And the finest sailer of the lot, on a bowline. Two points off the winds, she could give even dear Surprise foretopgallant, at least. A true, copper-bottomed plum, Stephen…."

Aubrey's fictional characterization of Acasta's speed likely overstates the historical ship's actual performance. The historical Acasta is described as "not outstandingly fast," but is acknowledged to have been "very weatherly" and more maneuverable than most other frigates her size. Likewise, Aubrey's description of Acasta as the "heaviest in the service" is not entirely accurate. Although she was among the largest fifth-rates of her time, she was not the heaviest of her contemporaries. For example, two other British 40-gun fifth-rates launched at the same time as Acasta (Endymion and Cambrian) both outweighed her and mounted heavier weaponry (24-pound cannon).

In The Surgeon’s Mate, Aubrey learns that Acasta has, in his absence while a prisoner-of-war in Boston, been given to Capt. "Robert Kerr." Acasta re-appears later in the Aubrey-Maturin series near the end of The Hundred Days, as part of Admiral Lord Barmouth’s squadron at Gibraltar.

Military Panorama or Officer's Companion

Captain Freymann has complained bitterly about the generally poor state of mail delivery to Halifax for some time now. His most recent complaint stems from the late delivery of his copy of "Military Panorama" for the month of April.

I must confess that having your issue arrive nearly a full eight months after its publication does seem excessively tardy.

I have offered suggestions that perhaps he write to the post office in Halifax in an attempt to ascertain the root of the problem. A well written inquiry might be able to discover if the fault lies with the Post Office, the publishers or the printer himself.

By the time I had made the suggestion, his attention was already devoted to the late issue. He was apparently reading something about an expedition to Egypt and correcting the author aloud on bits of detail as he went.

Mr. McArdle was bringing in a light repast as I saw myself out of the great cabin.

Getting ready for Christmas

Longing for Christmas at home.

Birdsall Cottage will likely be decorated for the season by now.

The Court Martial of Mr. Cox

A COURT MARTIAL was lately assembled at Portsmouth, to inquire into the cause of the loss of H.M.S. Penelope,* on her passage to Quebec; when the Court, upon the evidence adduced, decided that her loss was occasioned principally by the state of the weather, and the set of the current : that Mr. Homer, the master, was not sufficiently attentive to the situation of the ship a short time previous to her running ashore, and did adjudge him to be placed at the bottom of the list : that due attention was not paid by Captain Galloway and the first lieutenant of the ship, to the safety of the ship's company, by their neglecting to make proper arrangements for getting them on shore ; and that great blame was therefore also imputable to the said Captain Galloway and the first lieutenant. The Court thereupon adjudged Captain Galloway, in consideration of his having been afflicted with the rheumatism, to be only reprimanded, and Lieutenant B. Hooper to be severely reprimanded ; and that no blame was imputed to the other officers and ship's company, except Walter Howell, who for drunkenness, disobedience of orders, mutiny, and desertion, was sentenced to receive 500 lashes.

Robert Cox, a seaman of the Acasta, was also tried for deserting to the enemy, on the 13th of May, 1813, with the cutter, when employed on the coast of America, and for encouraging the other part of the boat's crew to give way, cheering them up himself. The charges being fully proved, the Court adjudged him to suffer Death on board such of his Majesty's ships as the Commissioners for executing the office of the Lord High Admiral may direct.

from: The Naval Chronicle : containing a general and biographical history of the royal navy of the United kingdom with a variety of original papers on nautical subjects
Volume: 34 Page 165

Rule, Britannia!

Welcome aboard HMS Acasta! 

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