As it happened the Fourth of July occurred while we lay here, the following is a sketch of the manner in which it was passed. It always has been customary in our navy to give the men a double allowance of grog on the Fourth of July, when in port; this old custom was now to be observed. Everything is generally pretty still during the fore part of the day, excepting the usual firing of salutes, displaying of flags, &c. If it happens that the ship is in a port where there are but few or no Americans, the festival is then confined to the officers and crews. The former of wnich, however, always contrive to have a good dinner, if it can be procured from the shore, and plenty of something good to wash it down with.
It happened that all these things could be obtained here. The wardroom officers invited the captain to dine with them. The midshipmen were also well provided with everything for having a good time. Dinner hour in the wardroom was at 4 o'clock P. M. Capt. Downes left the table at 5, and retired to his cabin, as he drank no wines or any kind of spirituous liquors, proba Q bly concluding from what preparations he saw, that there was to be a considerable business done in that line; and fearing that his presence might possibly retard the " flow of soul/' very generously retired; and thus leaving no obstacle to this convivial celebration of the glorious 4th.
At about sunset, the wine began to do its work; loud " hip, hip, hurrah's " were frequent and husky. The midshipmen too, were going it in grand style. Fragments of songs, mutilated toasts, loud calling from one side of the steerage 'to the other, gave full evidence of the patriotism that pervaded this all-important class of naval officers, and there were some fine fellows among them too. The seamen were not idle neither, and although they had not dined on roast beef and plum pudding, yet the plentiful supply of good old rye whiskey, which they had stored up for the occasion, was fully adequate for raising a powerful pressure of steam, which for the present was only let off in small quantities, through the upper valve, by songs and cheers.
By nine o'clock at night, I verily believe that there were but few sober souls in the ship. The captain was one, and your humble servant was another. He was a regular teetotaller, using no intoxicating drinks, and on such an occasion we must overlook any little improprieties among officers which at any other time would be highly reprehensible, and perhaps might result in serious consequences. One midshipman came up with his coat off, squaring away for a fight, and yelling like a mad bull. With some considerable difficulty I succeeded in getting him below. All hands were now engaged in one general fight on the gundeck. The master-at-arms, ship's coporal, and sergeant-ofmarines were drunk and not able to make exertion to quell the noise.
I took my seat, on a shot box on the half deck, and there heartily enjoyed the fun. The tumult had now become quite serious. I saw the captain go from his cabin door forward among the men. I then arose from my seat and followed him along on the other side, and when abreast the berth deck hatchway, was obliged to stop. He had taken the precaution however, before leaving his cabin, to take off his epaulets, so that in the dark he was not recognized. I kept quite near him, but on the other side of the hatchway. Directly an Irish marine that had just come out of a tight, came up to him, squaring away: " And wid ye like to take a crack wid me, ye spalpeen, ye." It was very dark, and of course the fellow did not know who he was talking to.
Capt. Downes just turned round and went aft, and I also took my old seat again. Sleep for that night was out of the question. My messmates were all sewed up, and I think upon the whole, that it was the most interesting Fourth of July that I had ever passed. But next day all was right again; everything went on as usual, quiet and harmonious. Having got through with our business at San Bias, we sailed for a port called Moliendo, a very small place communicating with the city of Arequipa. There is no settlement at this place, save only a few Indian huts, and probably about one hundred and fifty souls, who live principally by fishing. Their mode of catching fish is somewhat singular, having no boats or canoes, but instead of which, they take two large seal skins, and make them perfectly air tight; they then blow them full of air and confine them together in the shape of the letter A, with a cross piece in the niiddle and at 'the bottom.