Acasta Make and Mend

A selection of uniforms etc in progress:

All the Acasta LTs are quite excited about the arrival of their new batch of buttons!

Landman Matthew Cullen shows off his newly acquired sailor's kit. Nearly finished.

Lt. Ramsey shows off his newly completed hat while wearing the surgeon's coat to sub for his LT's coat.

Lt. Hamilton shows off his newly completed hat!

Mr Raley's hat in progress.

James Vassermann's sailor's work shirt in progress.

Lord Collingwood's advices

Submitted by: Chris Bertani

The late Lord Collingwood described his opinions on the need for a proper education before sending boys to sea in two letters written before and shortly after the Peace of Amiens. 

"I will order Mr. ---'s son to be received here with a great deal of pleasure, and do every thing in my power for him. Has he been taught navigation? If his father intended him for the sea, he should have been put to a mathematical school when twelve years old. Boys make very little progress in a ship, without having been well practiced in navigation; and fifteen is too old to begin, for very few take well to the sea at that age. If, however, Mr. --- is determined, he should lose no further time, but have his son taught trigonometry perfectly before he begins navigation. If the boy has any taste for drawing, it will be a great advantage to him, and should be encouraged."

[a year later]

"I would recommend his taking him home, and putting him to a good mathematical school, perfecting him, under his own eye, in navigation, astronomy, mechanics, and fortification. He knows now enough of ships to make the application of what he learns easy to him and when his head is well stocked, he will be able to find employment and amusement without having recourse to company, which is as often bad as good. He has sense and spirit enough to make a good officer and an honourable man; but he must make his studies a business, to which he must be entirely devoted: drawing is the best kind of recreation. If he be sent immediately to sea, he may become a good sailor, but not qualified to fill the higher offices of his profession, or to make his way to them."

A selection from the public and private correspondence of Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood; interspersed with memoirs of his life (Vol 1)

At New Harmony, '13

From my most recent trip.

A Stop in New Harmony

As you read these words, I have taken a brief trip to New Harmony, along the Wabash River, where I will be giving medical lectures and demonstrations in a great theatre! You may see a bit of what I talked about last year in the image above. I wish you all well until my return!

Mail for Jane Austen Festival

Open Call to ALL Reenactors, Historians and Creative Writers!

The Royal Navy reenacting group that represents HMS Acasta will be attending the Jane Austen Festival in July of this year. One of the things that I'd like to be able to do is deliver a 'mail packet' full of letters to the various Acasta members. This is a project that I have undertaken in the past with other groups with awesome results.

This is where YOU come in!

Anyone who would like to submit a period correct letter to add to the packet is encouraged to do so! We'd love to have your contribution, however large or small! Anything added to the packet will help to enhance the historical experience for not only the Acastas who receive them, but for the public who will attend the Festival as well.

Need some ideas for what to write? Try one of these:

Letter from a friend or colleague back home.

A bill or request for payment.

An overdue payment of debt.

A letter carrying news of the war(s)

Or, use the link below to see some other types of period letters:

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_complete_letter_writer.html?id=UKIDAAAAQAAJ

Wondering what a period letter looks like? Here are some beautiful examples:

http://www.bathpostalmuseum.co.uk/john-palmer/

Contact me to find out where to send your finished letter… or for any other additional information.

So pick up your pen and paper and get writing, and HAVE FUN!

A letter from the Captain

I was looking through my drawers and discover'd this old letter from my Captain. Do feel free to have a look:

VOLUNTEERS II

Some of the men that had begun working on a recruitment banner some time back used the past few sunny, idle days to continue work on it. They have gotten a great deal done, and the banner is nearly complete. The detail is quite impressive, though, I do not think that they were much appreciative of my comments on the anatomy of the lion and the unicorn, so I left them to paint in peace.