Log book for U.S. Frigate Constellation
KUHN, Adam S.
n.p. . 1819-1820.
Description:
Manuscript log book beginning on Friday November 12th 1819, ending on Tuesday April 12th 1820. 256x208mm. 81 numbered pages with the rest of the book (pp82-126) unnumbered. During the months of this log, the U.S. Frigate Constellation was the flagship of Commodore Charles Morris on the Brazil Station and was commanded by John B. Nicolson, whose signature we find in one of the entries. This is a full and detailed log giving three daily accounts of the ship's activities, the weather and important and interesting sightings and encounters with other ships including a run in with a French ship carrying a cargo of rice, ivory and oil. There are three pairs of sketches - of Lobos, the Islands of Flores, Black Point and Sugar Loaf Mountain and Montevideo Hill. Bound in tan half morocco, marbled paper covered boards with a black morocco label on upper cover lettered and decorated in gilt. Rubbing and wear to boards and loss at head of spine. Hinges are split with text block loose but holding. Pasted onto a blank preliminary are two newspaper cuttings recording the death of Midshipman Kuhn on 24th August 1820 after an illness of only four days: "his amiable deportment and mild manners had gained him the esteem of all on board...he had made himself master of his profession, and would, if he had lived, been an ornament to his profession".
A posting on USS Constellation would have been a plum one. It was a one of the US Navy's "capital ships", larger and more heavily armed than usual frigates. It was involved in the Barbary Wars, the Quasi-War with France and was blockaded by the British during the War of 1812. In 1819, the United States was keen to forge friendly trade relations with the newly independent nations of South America and to engage in negotiations with Simon Bolivar. Three ships, John Adams, Nonsuch and Constellation (with Constellation being chosen as the flagship) were sent to the River Plate and then worked their way back up the coast protecting American trade from pirates and privateers. This log covers the months of this mission.
Description:
Manuscript log book beginning on Friday November 12th 1819, ending on Tuesday April 12th 1820. 256x208mm. 81 numbered pages with the rest of the book (pp82-126) unnumbered. During the months of this log, the U.S. Frigate Constellation was the flagship of Commodore Charles Morris on the Brazil Station and was commanded by John B. Nicolson, whose signature we find in one of the entries. This is a full and detailed log giving three daily accounts of the ship's activities, the weather and important and interesting sightings and encounters with other ships including a run in with a French ship carrying a cargo of rice, ivory and oil. There are three pairs of sketches - of Lobos, the Islands of Flores, Black Point and Sugar Loaf Mountain and Montevideo Hill. Bound in tan half morocco, marbled paper covered boards with a black morocco label on upper cover lettered and decorated in gilt. Rubbing and wear to boards and loss at head of spine. Hinges are split with text block loose but holding. Pasted onto a blank preliminary are two newspaper cuttings recording the death of Midshipman Kuhn on 24th August 1820 after an illness of only four days: "his amiable deportment and mild manners had gained him the esteem of all on board...he had made himself master of his profession, and would, if he had lived, been an ornament to his profession".
A posting on USS Constellation would have been a plum one. It was a one of the US Navy's "capital ships", larger and more heavily armed than usual frigates. It was involved in the Barbary Wars, the Quasi-War with France and was blockaded by the British during the War of 1812. In 1819, the United States was keen to forge friendly trade relations with the newly independent nations of South America and to engage in negotiations with Simon Bolivar. Three ships, John Adams, Nonsuch and Constellation (with Constellation being chosen as the flagship) were sent to the River Plate and then worked their way back up the coast protecting American trade from pirates and privateers. This log covers the months of this mission.