Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 52026-h.htm or 52026-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52026/52026-h/52026-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52026/52026-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/matthewcalbraith00grifrich [Illustration: COMMODORE MATTHEW CALBRAITH PERRY.] MATTHEW CALBRAITH PERRY A Typical American Naval Officer by WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS Author of “The Mikado’s Empire”, “Corea the Hermit Nation” and “Japanese Fairy World” Boston Cupples and Hurd 94 Boylston Street 1887 Copyright, 1887, By Cupples and Hurd. All Rights Reserved The Hyde Park Press. IN REVERENT MEMORY OF MY FATHER JOHN L. GRIFFIS AND OF MY GRANDFATHER JOHN GRIFFIS WHO AS MERCHANT NAVIGATORS AND COMMANDERS OF SHIPS AND MEN at the ends of the earth CARRIED THE FLAG AND EXTENDED THE TRADE OF THE YOUNG REPUBLIC THIS BIOGRAPHY OF HER GREATEST SAILOR-DIPLOMATIST IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TABLE OF CONTENTS. OUR EARLY NAVY. Chapter Page I. THE CHILD CALBRAITH.—A REAL BOY 1 II. BOYHOOD’S ENVIRONMENT.—UNDER THE FLAG OF FIFTEEN STARS 10 III. A MIDSHIPMAN’S TRAINING UNDER COMMODORE RODGERS 19 IV. MEN, SHIPS, AND GUNS IN 1812 28 V. SERVICE IN THE WAR OF 1812.—THE FLAG KEPT FLYING ON ALL SEAS 38 AFRICA. SLAVERS AND PIRATES. VI. FIRST VOYAGE TO THE DARK CONTINENT.—LIEUTENANT PERRY GOES TO GUINEA 50 VII. PERRY LOCATES THE SITE OF MONROVIA.—THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE 58 VIII. FIGHTING PIRATES IN THE SPANISH MAIN 65 EUROPE AND DIPLOMACY. OUR FLAG IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.