38Talk:

Michael or Frank,

I'm wondering if you've ever come across any mention of either Matthew Fontaine Maury's charts or navigation manual or the use of charts made by Charles Wilkes' US Exploring Expedition in any antebellum logbooks or mariner's journals. My dissertation, which I am turning into a book, in part, examines the ways in which American mariners used naval science in the antebellum era to inform their understandings of natural processes at sea. It's a project completely different from my 38th Voyager Project, but your discussion of lunars and their mention in logbooks made me think of my other project. I'd appreciate your insight if you have a chance.

Many thanks!

Jason