| Show RELICS OF FAMOUS FRIGATE interesting relics from the frigate constitution the proposal by secre tary avy bonaparte to destroy which was defeated by vigorous protest are in the possession of J A murphey of philadelphia they are the logbook and ledger kept during the command of commodore charles stewart says the philadelphia led ger it was the intercession of the miss es stewart of philadelphia descend ants of the commodore that was most instrumental in creating a sen ciment for the preservation of the old halh the logbook embraces the period from december 1813 to may including some of the most important naval battles of the war of 1812 it Is in one handwriting presumably that of commodore stewart himself it tells in a concise and most mat ct style the thrilling incidents of that historic time among the more interesting stories is the recital of the capture of the lei ant the ledger contains the roster of officers and men and Is an account of the advances to them to pay etc its early entry Is august 19 1803 the officers of the constitution at that time were commodore charles stewart lieutenants james R cald well michael D carrol and joshua I 1 maxwell midshipman clement bid die and sailing master alexander harrlson the name of dr samuel marshall also appears the blokh boo kH an example fashioned thoroughness it Is hand ruled in red ink with the precision of a lithograph the entries are in bold clear script as legible as if they had been written yesterday arf contrast with the luxurious cir cum stances of an officer of a modern man mano o war la th entry against aleut caldwell he evidently had recourse to the slop chest from which at the present day the ordinary seaman only Is fitted out with clothing and other necessities tender the heading of advance of slops aleut caldwell Cal dwelt Is charged on the dates jan 31 and july 31 1804 with eighty cents and it had been mr murphey s intention to present the old records to some appropriate prop historical society in view of the fact that old ironsides will probably become itself a national mu seum he now thinks that their most appropriate resting place will be on the old vessel |
