tes steamer Princeton.

Very respectfully,

GIDEON WELLES, _Secretary of the Navy_.

Acting Assistant Surgeon John M. Batten, United States Navy,
Guthrieville, Pa.

After bidding my relatives and friends good-bye, I proceeded to
Philadelphia, Pa., and reported for duty on board the United States
steamer Princeton, which was lying anchored in the Delaware river off
Philadelphia, and which was the same vessel on which Abel Parker
Upshur, Secretary of State under President Tyler, was killed by the
explosion of a monster cannon whilst visiting said vessel, in company
with the President and other members of the Cabinet. The duty aboard
this vessel was of an initiatory character, to prepare officers for
clerical duties peculiar to each of their particular offices. I made
the acquaintance on this vessel of Surgeon James McClelland, who was
the Surgeon of the Princeton. He had entered the United States Navy
when a young man, and had been in the service ever since. He was about
fifty-five years of age. The first morning after sleeping aboard this
vessel, I was awakened by what is always usual aboard a man-of-war, a
large gun fired at sunrise. The concussion and reverberation from the
report of the heavy gun shook the vessel till it creaked, and, in my
half-slumbering condition, I wondered to myself whether it was not a
real battle in which the vessel was engaged; but upon mature reflection
and inquiry, I learned it was only the report of the sunrise gun.

One day, whilst on board the Princeton, a blank book in which were
copied a number of choice prescriptions used by many of the old
celebrated physicians of Philadelphia, fell into my hands. The book
belonged to Surgeon James McClelland. I thought, as I had nothing else
special to do, I would occupy the time in re-copying these
prescriptions into a blank book of my own; and just as I was re-copying
the last prescription, Dr. James McClelland came aboard. He noticed me
engaged in writing, and came into the state-room where I was, and
observed his book. He immediately asked me where I had got the book. I
told him where I had got it.

"Why," said he, "I would not take any money for a copy of those
prescriptions. I consider them very valuable, and would not for any
consideration let my best friend have a copy of them."

I told him that I believed it to be very wrong not to let prescriptions
which have been found valuable in disease, be known. After reprimandi