methods of duty and conception of discipline smacked of the "true blue"
ideal of the Covenanters of old in their enforcement of obedience and
conservation of morals. The second was Captain L.M. Goldsborough, a man
of stalwart height and proportions and a presence that ennobled command;
learned and accomplished, yet gruff and overwhelming in speech and
brusque and impatient in manner, but possessing, withal, a kindly
nature, and a keen sense of humor that took in a joke enjoyably, however
practical; and a sympathetic discrimination that often led him to
condone moral offences at which some of the straight-laced professors
stood aghast. His responses at church-service resounded like the growl
of a bear, and when reprimanding the assembled midshipmen, drawn up in
battalion, for some grave breach of discipline, he would stride up and
down the line with the tread of an elephant, and expound the Articles of
War in stentorian tones that equaled the roar of a bull! But if,
perchance, in the awesome precincts of his office, he afterwards got
hold of a piece of doggerel some witty midshipman had written
descriptive of such a scene, none would enjoy it more than he!

After an enjoyment of a three months' leave of absence at home.
Midshipman Perkins was ordered to join the sloop-of-war Cyane, Captain
Robb. That ship was one of the home squadron, and in November, 1856,
sailed for Aspinwall, to give protection to our citizens, mails, and
freight, in the transit across the Isthmus of Panama to California, back
and forth. At that period safe and rapid transit in that region of riots
and revolution was much more important than now,--the Pacific Railroad
existing only in the brains of a few sagacious men,--and the maintenance
of the thoroughfare across the pestilential isthmus was a national
necessity. For years our naval force on either side had had frequent
occasion to land expeditions to protect the life and property of our
citizens, and a frightful massacre of passengers had but lately occurred