The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

From Scri5neF's Sons We have The Eeeol-
leeti0ns OF a Naval OiGceT,s 1916 by Cap
tam William HarFFar Parker, author OF a num-
Der OF technical works on seamsnshiD, naval
tactics and navigation 1t is simply e0Ilee-
ton OF "reminiscences OF service IN the United
States navy, from the period Just prior to the
Mexican war until the close Of the rebellion,
IN which the author served as q captain IN the
Confederate navy. These "reminiscences are re-
lated in such 4 delightful 0if-hand, raey manner
that their perussl IS calculated really TO give the
reader trIeT insight into the composition and
character Of the navy than can be obtained
from more pretensi0as works. Indeed, Captain
Parker IS careful to warn the pa5Iic at tina
very outset Of his narrative that they are not
to expect anything N particular Of him, and
aprog0s relates the following neat story:
During the war with Mexico ISsz IS a friend OF
the United States steamer Mississippi The Missis-
spp7 went frOE2 Vera Cruz n tfes squadron TO at
tack Tarnpico. and had IN tow the schooner Bonita
During the night "northeri' sprang up, and
the officer OF the deck let the Bonita go, ana did
not thlnk 1t necessary 70 reporE tae fact % the COM
Ta0dore.
IN the morning the eozTnOaore. Matthew O.
Perry. came deck, and not seeing the Bonita.
inquired where she The officer OF the deck told
him that IN the night they had let her so IN cOnse-
QueucS of the weather. The commodore, who
not noted for his ssIvicr us0esO though strength
the t9rffteT u re- said. send the master 20 me-
Upon his appearance ne ssid. :. iIr- Brown, where
IS that schooner Brown. who was never at .
loss for answer instantly replied: She Is ). g.
E. fifteen miles distant" She il eh p" said the
commodore, and turning to the officer Of the deck
he said: steer 5. 3 &" The Cfficers N the ward
room hearing of the occurrence, said: Wen old
Brown IS caught at iast." In about an hour tho
man at the mast head called out: SaII no, -
= Where away said the officer of tie deck
= Right ahead - the reply and n a few uin-
schooner" BY George said the officers IN tho
ward room, old Brown IS right after AT - After
awhile se strange sail reached, and proved 70
be . merchant schooner bound 70 Pensacola Ths
commodore, IN great rage, sent Tor Brown. and
said: " Dad you not say the schooner Bonita bOrs
;. s. Z. fifteen miles OFF," well, sir, said
Brown, . the reckoning called for schooner, bus
Il did not say il wss shs Bouita!''
Now, the moral OF this . that this reckoning
calls for schooner, but particular schooner
IT any fellow expects his schooner TO be mentioned
he may ind himself mistaken
I wish to SLY here. with Captain Kfneaid Of tho
rife bzttalion, that this IS MY book, and II any
man wishes ais name or services to be specially
mentioned, lei him write q book foE himself
The book Is IN measure Captain Parker's
autobiography, for it begins with mis- entrance
into the navy as a midshipHaaA and concludes
with the termination OF his career as q naval
officer. 1t IS written, as We have said, in a de-
lightful ansci0t8l vein, aud is full besides, OF
stirring Incidents, rot only Of the period prior
to the rebellion. 5gt the Southern side of that
fierce conflict. We regard it as a most impoEt-
ant contribution TO the literature OF tine naval
service For sale IN Washington by w. II.
Morrison.