Although a prisoner of war, David Farragut was glad to get back to the
United States.
While waiting to be exchanged he attended a school in Chester,
Pennsylvania.
It was a strange school. The pupils had no books. The teacher, Mr. Neif,
told them the things he wished them to learn, and the boys wrote them
down in notebooks. They would sometimes be examined on these notes to
see whether they had paid proper attention.
In the afternoons, Mr. Neif would take the boys for long walks. They
made collections of minerals and plants, and learned many curious and
useful facts about them.
Mr. Neif, who had been a soldier, gave the boys military drill. He also
taught them to swim and climb.
David Farragut was not a handsome boy. But people liked to look at him,
for his face was honest and good. He was short for his years, but he
stood very erect, and held his head as high as he could.
"I cannot afford to lose any of my inches," he said.
In November, 1814, the British and the Americans made an exchange of
prisoners, and David Farragut was now free to return to the navy. As a
treaty of peace was made a few weeks later, he did not have to serve
against the British.
During the next two years, David made but one short cruise. He was
quartered, the rest of the time, on a receiving ship. This is a vessel
stationed at the navy yards, where recruits are first received into the
service.
In the spring of 1816, David went on a cruise that proved to be most
interesting. He was ordered to the _Washington_, a beautiful new ship of
seventy-four guns. This was to carry the American minister to Naples, in
Italy.
While waiting at Annapolis for the minister they had a visit from the
President, James Madison. Among his suite was Captain Porter, who was
then a naval commissioner. He came to say good-bye to David.
The voyage across the Atlantic was one to be remembered. The captain
was very proud of his "crack" ship. He kept the crew so busy cleaning
decks and scouring "bright work," that sometimes they had no food for
eight hours at a time. Once all the crew were kept on deck for several
nights in succession.
During the summer months, the _Washington_ cruised about the
Mediterranean, stopping at many places. This was a wonderful experience
for David. He visited the bay of Naples. The great volcano, Vesuvius,
was then in eruption, and the sight of this alone was worth the voyage.
While in the bay, the king of Naples and the emperor of Austria made a
visit to the _Washington_, and a grand display was made to entertain
them.
The _Washington_ stopped at the coast towns of Tunis, Tripoli, and
Algiers, and finally wintered in a Spanish harbor. The Spaniards were
very kind to the captain. They allowed him to use their navy yard, in
which to refit his vessel.
During all this cruise, the boys on the ship were taught by the
chaplain, Mr. Folsom.
He was very fond of David, and in the autumn of 1817, when he was
appointed consul to Tunis, he wrote to the captain of the _Washington_
for permission to take David with him.
This request was granted, and David spent a delightful year with his old
friend. He studied mathematics and English literature. He also learned
to speak French and Italian.
He and Mr. Folsom took many trips about the Mediterranean, and these
were of great benefit to him. In October, 1818, he returned to the
_Washington_, in which he cruised for another year.