Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-29
The wind and Current charts.

7 The commanding officer of the Russian
squadron in the Pacific, Commodore PAPoFF,
Aide-de-Camp of the Emperor of Russia, in
his report from Simon's Bay to the Grand
Duke Constantine, gives an account of the
use he made of Commander MAuKY-s Sailing
Directions, as follows:
"During my voyage from Rio Janeiro to
Simon's Bay / had experienced the necessity
to believe all that is stated by the world
known Maury in confirmation of the truths
that he has advanced. Before sitting down
in his cabinet and using his pen Marry had
navigated himself the oceans and practically
investigated all matters which can frighten
the mind of sailor. and, being convinced
by his own researches of those laws of ma
ture that he pointed out to seamen. and by
which he draws nearer tue human races, he
does not adopt single idea without strong
criticism. Many and many times in my voy-
ages was tormeBtcd with anxiety of reach
ing In the shortest time the port of my des-
tination. and tried the best means to obtain
this object; and no doubt the thoughts that
struck me at that time were the very thoughts
that thousands of men were impressed with
before me in these distant voyages: and in
that way We were navigating in such long
and blind manner. Very often l would
make up my mind not to follow the advice of
Maury, for at that time | was impressed that
the weather and winds were not at all as he
describes them, but more according TO my
own conviction; but the reading of few
pages from the eloquent pen of this great
pilot numerically OverIhrew all my ideas;
the doubts disappeared, and / had faith in
the Maury words.
again it occurred to me that, with the
natural human inquisitiveness which is par
ticularly great when the things are con-
nected with personal responsibility. / would
find something which is not in accordance
with Maury's directions, but an attentive
reading of his sailing directions again sub
mitted me to his influence This way | con-
tinued to be in doubt till the results justified
Maury aud suggested to me the bright OPT.
MON not TO give to my own ideas more i'm
portance than they are entitled to.
Thousands of vessels skim the seas, and
among them we have the place of very
small particle. and our good sense teaches
us not to go over the limits of the part
signed to us, but with modesty to note down
the faithful figures in the journals OF the
Brussels Conference. 1t is only by such
proceeding that in present time one may say
that he had brought mite for the universal
benefit without misleading anybody. 1t re-
CURED only a sensible look on the Maury
charts to be cured of any self-conceit.
Six hours after we left Rio we pat down
the steam of our boilers and received mode
rate breeze from the north, which carried US
very rapidly towards southeast. But these
favorable circumstances soon left US, and the
18th of December we experienced a few
squalls, aud on the night of the l4h we were
becalmed, after which we received the wind
from south and east. Now. had L followed
punctually Manry's advice. should have
taken my course to the south without any
regard to its leading us out of the straight
line to the cape, but was anxious to shorten
the route, and several days constantly headed
east. Atlast was compelled to recognize my
Obstinacy. when | saw that l brought the
vessels in the region of the trade wind. At
least five days We're lost this way. We found
ourself in the limits of the trade winds, and
when l decided to head southwest twenty
hours OF sailing from the straight course were
sufficient to reach the place where We re-
ceived good westerly breeze