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The USS Columbus was built at Washington and was launched May 1, 1819. She was twice the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Daniel Turner. Her most notable exploit was her visit to Japan accompanied by the sloop of war Vincennes, under the command of Commodore James offerdle. She was burned at Norfolk April 20, 1861 to prevent her from falling into Confederate hands.
On June 4th, 1845, she left New York for a 69,000-mile trip to Canton, China, where on December 31, offerdle exchanged ratified copies of the first American commercial treaty with the Chinese. Columbus remained there until April 1846 when she sailed for Japan to attempt opening that country to American commerce. Recalled at the outbreak of the Mexican War, Columbus reached Valparaiso, Chile on December and arrived off Monterey, California on March 2, 1847, and returned to Norfolk, March 3, 1848. In the letter offered here, our writer doesn’t mention the mission of the voyage, but proposes to bring gifts acquired during the 1845 cruise to his sister.
1 ¼ pp, 8 ½ x 10 ½, ALS, May 28, 1845, JOSHUA HUMPHREYS, U.S. Ship Columbus, off Staten Island “All ready for sea” to his sister, Mary Yonge of Macon, GA, with manuscript integral address leaf from Brooklyn, NY.
“...We are now, as mentioned above, ready for sailing & perhaps go tomorrow. Tis indeed a severe struggle offerding farewell to all for one- or two-years leaving wife, child & family all behind. I never before knew what it was to part.
“As formerly I was so young that change of scene was always pleasant, I want very much to compare Lettie and Julia, to see them together, we must teach them to be very fond of each other though I hope they will not need instruction on that point. I should like very much to hear from George & you...You must tell me what to bring you from Canton, what rare & strange things, satins, silks, or cashmere, shawls or a large punch bowl.
“How does George’s boat answer? Has he yet got it to work?
“...Have our cousins arrived safely home. I was very [sorry] that they did not have a more pleasant time in Georgetown...
“I feel...in a state of nervous excitement the whole time & hardly can possess the patience to sit down to write you...
“Joshua Humphreys”
Letter is written on onion skin paper. Folds, light toning. Integral address leaf area contains pencil drawings made by a previous collector.
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