The pacific name of at least one of the vessels selected to bear our flag, and our envoy, John Randolph of Roanoke, into Russian waters, suggested the olive branch, rather than the arrows, held in the talons of the American eagle. The _Concord_, which was to be put under Perry’s command, was named after the capital of the state in which she was built. She was of seven hundred tons burthen and carried eighteen guns. She was splendidly equipped, costing $115,325; and was destined, before shipwreck on the east coast of Africa in 1843, to the average life of fifteen years, and thirteen of active service. Perry was offered sea-duty April 1. Accepting at once, he received orders, April 21, to command the _Concord_. By May 15, he had settled his accounts at the recruiting station, and was on the _Concord’s_ deck. He wrote asking the Department for officers. He was especially anxious to secure a good school-master and chaplain. In those days, before naval academies on land existed, the school was afloat in the ship itself, and daily study was the rule on board. Mathematics, French and Spanish were taught, and Perry took a personal interest in the pupils. In this respect he was the superior even of his brother Oliver, whose honorable fame as a naval educator equals that as a victor. Leaving Norfolk, late in June, a run of forty-three days, including stops for visits to London and Elsineur, brought the _Concord_ under the guns of Cronstadt, August 9. Mr. Randolph spent ten days in Russia, and then made his quarters in London.