Letters sent to family from USS Plymouth, 1858 Jun 3-Sep 20

Correspondence, letters sent from USS Plymouth, in Norfolk, VA, Key West, Cuba, and Haiti, June 3–September 20, 1858, to his mother, brother and sister. He describes life aboard ship, personal details, a trip ashore in Sagua, Cuba, and breakfast with a port officer, visiting shops there, receipt of her letter in Havana, Cuba, his studying Spanish, lack of money, the Cuban señoritas, Negroes of Cuba, the ship’s route, visit to Port au Prince, Haiti, and the Negro population there, criticisms of his mess mates and sailors (their lack of manners, education and selfishness), port call in Vera Cruz, Mexico, to transport U.S. Minister, Mr. Forsyth, home, his unfavorable impressions of the city, voyage to Tampico to protect American property, his desire to be home and his dislike of life at sea.