Images of life at sea 5

Today, my newly bound book arrived in the post from Lt. Schifferdecker

A copy of Turnbull's 'Naval Surgeon'

Complete with tables and cuts!

And advertisements in the back for other publications.

A FINE addition to the Acasta's medical library!

A SNEAK PREVIEW

From the Schedule

For more information about the Fair at New Boston visit: http://www.fairatnewboston.org/

For more information about the Spy Game, visit its dedicated page: Acasta Spy Game

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 13

The swatches sent for my book's covering

I was sent along several paper swatches from which to choose the cover of my newest volume to my collection of medical books. While they are all quite lovely, anyone who knows me well knows how partial I am to green. Therefore, I have written back to Lt. S., to let him know my preference.

Additionally, I have enclosed excerpts from my most recent letter to him:

HMS Acasta

North American Station

My Dear Lt,

You are too kind Sir, I will be very pleased to add these volumes to my little library. I have no doubt that they will be of great service. I shall remember you kindly each time I make use of them!

During these long, cold, inactive months we have upon our hands, Lt. M. Ramsey and myself have been in the process of making some new pieces for ourselves. Namely, new Waistcoats and wool undress jackets. Our Mr. Ramsey is quite the tailor and threatens to out swagger us all in his new double breasted waistcoat.

On the other hand, mine is quite plain and old-fashioned as is evidenced in the image of it I shall enclose with this missive. It has always been my tendency to be a creature of habit, and in the realm of fashion, I suppose it is no different.

Again, you have my most sincere thanks for your kindness and know that I most sincerely wish you health and success equal to the justice of our cause; and am, with great respect, dear Sir,

Your affectionate and obedient servant,

Doctor A. Roberts

Lt. Ramsey and I are nearly finished with our new waistcoats, the other evening we sat together in conversation while we worked on them, I at my pocket flaps and he at the lining and back of his own. His has made great leaps and bounds in progress. We lack only the proper buttons for the garments in question, which must be ordered from afar, and can be quite expensive. 

I may see if any of the officers are in need of similar buttons and gauge their interest in splitting the cost, as the minimum order would appear to be 50 buttons, and I have no need for so many.

Sick & Hurt Commissioners Button

Mr. Ramsey and I have set upon the idea that our next projects this winter shall be to put together new breeches (altho' I believe that the Lt. has decided on trousers) and new wool undress coats. We have not yet decided which will come first, tho' I suspect that the breeches may come first, as we have a great quantity of the material for them already at hand.

My next task is to lay hands upon a set of buttons for my coat that bear the mark of the Sick and Hurt Board at a reasonable cost. I have several leads and am still in the process of making inquiries into the matter.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 12

I have received another letter, and one that bears exciting news! You may read its contents below.

Lt. Schifferdecker of the Nancy

Winter Quarter
Western Lakes
HMS Nancy in Ordinary

Dear Doctor Roberts,

Thank you for you kind letter of the 12th ultimo. The crew is snug in their winter quarters ashore and are currently employed in procuring two new boats for His Majesty's service. Suitable material abounds in this country and the men are cracking along at a feverish pitch. No doubt this will give us the edge next season and we will give old Jonathan quite a dusting!

The "Naval Surgeon" has come back from the printer and the first volumes are in process in the bindery. I have begun to replicate the plate in question and I hope it proves satisfactory. I hope to have the volumes completed by the end of the month...

Your kind offer of payment is duly noted, but I must insist that this be gift. So let us hear no more of this subject.

I remain,
Y.H. & O.S.
Lt Schifferdecker

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 11

The following letters come from my recent personal correspondence concerning a matter of book-binding.

 Dear Dr. Roberts,

I am about to deliver up the "Naval Surgeon" to the printers. I have found a replacement for Plate VI. Amputation Instruments. When I was about to embark upon Plate V. Trepanning Instruments, I happened upon the very same in your published works on your adventures aboard HMS Acasta. So to the question. Is it possible to get a [finer] copy of this plate? It will certainly be easier to complete the work in question. Your assistance would be most helpful.

There is not any particular rush, as these plates will be inserted after binding.

I remain,
Y.H. & O.S.
Lt S---------

My dear Lt. S---------,

I bring you greetings from the North American Station. I am always gratified to receive mail from my fellows, especially in this cold and dreary season of the Year.

As to the plate in question, I am afraid that I do not have a larger version of the image of the Trepanning tools. I have also performed a search for such with no luck. Do you not think that your printer might be able to make due with my version? It is my understanding that if the book itself is not too sizeable and the image does not have to be enlarged to fit upon the page, it may just suit the purpose.

Additionally, should the plate be reduced in size to fit upon the page, there would be no loss of detail would there? Of course, I shall leave it to you, as your knowledge in this matter will naturally be greater than my own, as I do not have the book in my hand to reference for such details.

I am quite in your debt for the printing and binding of the volume in question, it shall be a fine addition to my little medical library here. Are you certain there is not some way for which I might repay you for the book? Perhaps there are some papers I might be able to draw up for you? I have been called upon once or twice to ply my pen in the service of my fellow men, with admirable results.

It is my sincere hope that this missive finds you well and the Acastas here join with me in presenting their best compliments to yourself and Crew. If, in your affairs here, I can render you any acceptable service, I beg you will use that freedom with which I wish you to command, dear Sir,

Your affectionate and obedient servant,
Dr. A. Roberts

N.B. Whenever your leisure will permit, it will always give me the greatest pleasure to be informed of your welfare.

Ship's Log Modification

Observant readers might take note that I have made a slight modification to the Ship's Log. It should not offer you any trouble in the changing.

If you cast your eye to the right of this page, you'll discover the section entitled "Logs by Author/Assignment".

You may select more easily from here whose logs you wish to read. Additionally, you may now select to read all of the logs from a particular mission. For example, Lt Ramsey and I are only recently returned from a covert mission in the Indiana Territory. If you wish to read all the related log entries, you have but to select 'Mission 1'.

I have no doubt that there will be more 'mission entries' to come.