"SPEECH OF CO. JESSE DUNCAN ELLIOTT,

DELIVERED IN HAGERSTOWN, MD., ON 14TH NOVEMBER 1843."

(WITH APPENDICES AND ADDENDA.)

PHILADELPHIA: G. B. ZIEBER & CO. 1844.

Pg.   20:  Says President Jackson was on board CONSTITUTION when she first was drydocked. 

           [Untrue.]

Pp. 20‑1:  "...When in the Mediterranean, in extreme youth, I saw this venerated ship [CONSTITUTION], just after one of her engagements at Tripoli, when the head of the figure of Hercules had been shot from her bow [untrue] ‑‑ her appearance then, made a strong and enduring impression on my mind.  After I went to Boston, where Constitution then was, her bow decorated with a billethead, I received orders to repair her, as 'she originally was,' and the impression still upon my mind of her mutilated figure of Hercules, when in the Mediterranean, in obedience to instructions [untrue], I proceeded to have a figure made of that classic hero.  I engaged an artist for the purpose and was actually at work at the figure, when I was frequently and earnestly importuned by prominent citizens of Boston, to place the head of Jackson, instead of that of Hercules, on their favorite ship [untrue].  To these solicitations I finally yielded, and went to the artist, and asked him if he could change the head to a likeness of Jackson.  He said he could easily do so, and was so delighted with the idea, that he proposed doing it for nothing."  [Carver Beecher was paid.]

Pg.   23:   Passed Midshipman Charles C. Barton to France, then Mediterranean in CONSTITUTION in 1835.

Pg.   26:   Lieutenant Charles G. Hunter in CONSTITUTION at least during latter part of Mediterranean cruise.

Pg.   31:   Elliott met the Pope while visiting Rome.

Pg.   33:  Lieutenant Hardy, USMC, and Midshipman Maffitt aboard (1837).

Pg.   34:  Elliott picked up a temple fragment at Marathon; given to Girard College, Philadelphia.

Pg.   35:  Lieutenant Drayton, "my flag officer."  [None was assigned.]

Pg.   36:  Elliott states he resisted the temptation to "pluck a branch" from one of the olive trees in the Garden at Gethsemane.

Pg.   37:  General Lewis Cass' entire suite of 16 persons was accommodated in Elliott's cabin.

           "The question may be asked, how came they all on board?  Having touched at.the different ports of Greece‑‑...which powers desired the establishment of a treaty with the United States, ‑‑ I, on returning to my winter quarters at Mahone [sic], addressed a communication to my old friend General Jackson, stating to him the wishes of the Grecian power, and that if he would send me a travelling companion - either Mr. Poinsett of South Carolina or Colonel Drayton, ‑ I could secure and establish such a treaty without the heavy expense of a regular mission [untrue].  General Cass, it seems, having accepted the mission to France, volunteered for the performance of the duties expressed in my letter; securing at the same time from the secretary of the Navy, instructions for me to receive him and his suit [sic] on board my squadron. 

           These papers were enclosed to me by General Cass, asking at the same time my permission to add his wife, his three daughters, his son, and male and female attendants, to which I answered that they would be to us welcome as the flowers in May.  Accordingly, on the first of May, 1837, he embarked on board the Constitution, at Marseilles, with his wife, three daughters, his son, three attaches, a male and female servant, and a French schoolmaster for himself, all of whom were received and accommodated as before stated, until near the 25th of November of the same year, when I placed them on board the frigate United States, for Marseilles."

Pg.   38:  Lieutenant Brent (1837).  Capudan Pasha's flagship MAHMOUD (120).

Pg.   39:  Elliott swam across the River Jordan.  Midshipmen Anderson and Fleming (1837), "...my aids de camp..."  In the Valley of Esdrolon, Elliott obtained "a parcel" of wheat to bring back to "farmers of Lancaster and Chester counties;" and to Daniel Webster.

Pg.   43:  Elliott cut off a branch of one of the cedars of Lebanon; gave it to Girard College. At Tripoli (Lebanon), Elliott reembarked in CONSTITUTION, taking "the Arabian mare I purchased at Jerico [sic]."  Also purchased an Arabian stallion at Damascus.

Pp. 43‑4:  With the Cass suite, Elliott visited Cairo, the pyramids, etc.  He "procured some of these relics" at Geza [sic]; also a mummy given to Jefferson Medical College at Baltimore.

Pg.   45:  Elliott "purloined a piece" of a sarcophagus top at Giza also, which he passed on to Girard College.  Earlier, he had acquired two sarcophagi from Beirut "purchased on my private account, and which will be my sepulchre."

Pg.   46:  In Port Mahon in November 1837; shifted Cass party to USS UNITED STATES.

Pg.   52:  "He [the President] asked me, 'Did Captain Boerum shrink from the responsibility of his command, even to admit that you had not the right to make the appointment, ‑‑ did he enter upon the duties and profess to discharge them, and then shrink from the responsibilities?'  I assured him that was so..."

Appendix (pagination added)

Pg.   53:  Lieutenant Charles H. McBlair in CONSTITUTION in 1838.

Pg.   55:  Elliott appointed Lieutenant William Boerum Flag Captain on 30 November 1836.  [He had not the authority to do so.]  Carpenter Sage on board CONSTITUTION in 1838.

Pg.   56:  Chaplain Everet [sic] died on board CONSTITUTION; succeeded by Chaplain Lambert for three months.

Pp. 56‑7:  William Boerum ordered to CONSTITUTION as First Lieutenant on 31 July 1835.

Pg.   57:  CONSTITUTION paid off on 18 August 1838.

Pg.   58:  Letter, SecNav Paulding to Commander W. Boerum, 7 May 1839: "...the Department considered Commodore Elliott as Captain of the Constitution, during her late cruise in the Mediterranean."

Pg.   59:  Elliott acquired "four colossal balls" while in the Dardanelles.

Pg.   61:  Passed Midshipmen Dulany, Hagerty, and Lewis;  Surgeon Daniel Egbert; Purser Holland; and Boatswain Whittaker may have been in CONSTITUTION in 1838.  Fleet surgeon was Bailey Washington in 1837.  Surgeon Samuel Barrington transferred to CONSTITUTION; Washington a hopeless drunk.

           Note:  Fleet Surgeon T. J. Boyd apparently died at some point during the cruise.

Pg.   65:  SecNav letter to Elliott, 18 October 1836, directed embarkation of Cass "during the next season" in accordance with the Presidential desire to have Cass visit the Near East and report his observations.

Pg.   66:  Cass party boarded 1 May 1837 at Marseilles.