U. S Ship Constitution

Boston. Nov 9^th, 1848

Mr. C. F. K

It is a long time since I have had a letter from you. & as I had nothing to do, I thought I would write to my old friend, so here goes. I have been well since I heard from you last. I had a letter from Ed Botsford two or three days, he said Poland was the same old place it used to be just as dry as ever. How does the firm of CFK & T.K. & Co. get along, I suppose you are doing a big business.

I am going out in the U S Frigate Constitution to the Medityeranean, I suppose you have heard of the ship. She is a beauty I tell you, she is not so large a ship as Cumberland but she is much handsomer I shall probably be gone two or three years two a least. I expect we will sail about the 15^th of this month for Gibraltar & it is expected we will go to Tripoli & Alexandria & cruise all around there.

You must excuse me for not writing a long letter for I do not know what to write about. I expect we will know in a day or two who is to be President of the United States, the city of Boston has gone for Taylor. I have fine times on board the old Ironsides, I am Captains aid & have very little to do except go on shore & call on the ladies & go to the Theatre. I have made a good many acquaintances on shore both here and in N.Y. city. I applied for this ship some time before I got my orders to her & rec. as an answer that all the officers were ordered to the Constitution. But when J. Y. Mason visited New York I went to him & told him that I was adrift in New York & asked him if I could not go out as passenger in her & report for duty when the ship arrived there, after asking me a few questions he turned to Commodore Perry & asked him if he was willing I should go & then told me to go on that evening with him to Boston, he treated very kindly indeed.

I wish you would write to me when you receive this or it would be better to wait till you hear from me, I shall write to Father in a day or two. The following are the directions. Direct to Midn. JPK Mygatt US Ship Constitution Meditteranean Squadron to the care of Nathaniel Denby Esq Navy Agent. Marseilles. France, & then put it in an envelope & direct it to the care of Messrs Messrs Boyd & Finken Agents for the Havre Packet, 88 Wall Street New York. You will have to pay the postage to New York. I wish you would give these directions to Father if you please & confer a great obligation.

I have nothing more to say at present. Write soon. I recd a letter from Father in which he says that Tushand thought I avoided him on purpose in New York, I am sorry that he thinks so for I never recd his card nor message either. Remember me to Tushand & Mary & Lucy &c. Give my best respects to such of my old school mates as you may see from time to time. Farewell old fellow. No more At present.

I remain Your Sincere Friend

JPK Mygatt

USN

PS

Tell Father I will write to him a day or two before we sail. Do not write till you hear from me again. Excuse the writing for candle is not very pleasant to write by, especially in Steerage.

JPK Mygatt

----------------------------------------------------------

Jared P. K. Mygatt was an Acting Midshipman when he wrote this letter as he had not yet received his warrant. He served aboard the U.S.F. Constitution from late October 1848 until 21 January 1851. The Secretary’s letter notifying him that Constitution had all of her officers is dated 4 October 1848 and may be found in the National Archives microfilm series M149 on Roll 44. During most of that time she was in the Mediterranean protecting American interests, primarily in revolution-wracked Italy. In 1849 while in Gaeta Italy, Pope Pius IX made a visit to the ship becoming the first Pontiff to "step" onto U.S. territory. J. Y. Mason was Secretary of the Navy. Commodore Perry was Matthew Calbraith Perry.

A big thank you goes to the Captain’s Clerk  http://www.polkcounty.org/timonier for his valuable assistance in deciphering the letter and the information on Henry Dana