Autograph Letter Signed, from Thomas Wilcox to A[aron] C. Cushman, master of the whaling ship Congaree. Two pages, on 4-page letter sheet with printed forms on the inside pages from the National Observatory in Washington, devised by oceanographer M. F. Maury to be used by whaling captains to record observations to send to Washington for compiling oceanographic and navigation date. 27x21.5 cm. (10½x8½"), folded to form stampless cover, addressed to "Capt. A.C. Cushman, Ship Congaree, Pacific Ocean. Care U.S. Consul Payta" [i.e. Paita, Peru].
Fascinating letter to a whaling captain, remarkable not only for its content, but for the form it is written on. Lieutenant William Fontaine Maury, U.S.N., considered the "Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology", was desirous of meteorological and oceanographic data, and thought rightly the best way to obtain it was from those intrepid mariners trolling the seas for years on end in search of whales. He devised a letter form for the whalers to fill out and send in, and Capt. Cushman's agent in New Bedford used this form to write a letter to Cushman, and perhaps sent other forms with it as well, as implied in the letter. He writes in part: "I have been furnished with the enclosed circular from the National Observatory at Washington with the request I should write to the masters of the ships of which I act as agent, requesting them to make and record the observations as per the circular. This you can do or not as suits your convenience, though if not too much trouble, it would be as well to keep the record as desired..." He also refers to the California Gold Rush and some implications for whalers, "If it is possible to keep your men on board during the California excitement I should advise, by all means to continue on the voyage as first intended though the prospect may appear tempting at the present, to engage in a California voyage. I do not believe it will be of any long duration, as great numbers of vessels of all classes are leaving this country, and Europe to engage in that business and it appears to me, it will be greatly overdone, and must result in a great loss if not ruin to many who have engaged in it..." He goes on to note that "Not a single whaler has been fitted this year as yet," but feels that "The Gold fever has abated very much, and the wits of people seem to be returning..."