364 GEORGE H. HIMES
I enjoyed the cards and your interesting letter very much, and thanking you for the same, I remain,
Respectfully,
BURR OSBORN.
In a subsequent letter to me, dated Oct. 13th, Mr. Osborn says: "I remember two more names of the Shark's crew John Powers and Past Midshipman Gillespie. I did not give you the name under which I enlisted on the Shark. It was John Burr Osborn. The reason for the additional name was that the clerk thought that 'Burr' was a nick-name, and hence added 'John.' "
After securing the foregoing from Mr. Osborn, an attempt was made to obtain a portrait of Lieutenant Howison and an account of his life. To that end a letter was addressed to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy at Annapolis; but as that institution was not established until 1845 the record there was very meagre. Then a letter was sent to Hon. Harry Lane, United States Senator from Oregon, Washington, D. C, and he took the question up with the Bureau of Navigation of the Naval Department and the following was supplied :
RECORD OF SERVICE OF THE LATE LIEUTENANT NEIL M. HOWISON, U. S. NAVY
Born in Virginia.
1823 Feb. 1. Appointed a midshipman.
Dec. 6. Ordered to Norfolk to Peacock.
Dec. 20. Accepted appointed.
1827 Oct. 24. To Court Martial, Philadelphia.
Oct. 27. Leave unlimited.
1828 Sept. 5. To the receiving ship, New York.
Oct. 13. Permission to attend Naval School.
Oct. 24. Attend examination.
Dec. 4. Be ready for orders to the expedition.
1829 Dec. 23. Be ready for orders to the Brandy wine.
Dec. 26. To the Brandywine as Sailing Master.
1830 July 12. Leave unlimited.
Aug. 20. To the Brandywine.
