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The Charles W. Morgan general order book contains 57 orders (33 pages) that Morgan issued to the United States Navy Mediterranean Squadron on November 20, 1841, and April 11, 1842. The orders pertain primarily to officers' duties and conduct and to logistical issues.

The Charles W. Morgan general order book contains 57 orders (33 pages) that Morgan issued to the United States Navy's Mediterranean Squadron on November 20, 1841, and April 11, 1842. The orders pertain primarily to officers' duties and conduct, and to logistical issues.

The orders, issued at Port Mahon, Minorca, follow a 2-page introduction that states the necessity of discipline within the navy. Some guidelines pertain to the frequency of muster rolls, returns, financial records, and other reports; inspections of ships, guns, and handheld weapons; and regular training exercises. Many orders concern the health and conduct of officers and crew, including procedures for admitting the sick or infirm to a naval hospital. Morgan provided instructions for officers' conduct while on shore leave and forbade any sailor from discussing the fleet's movements with unauthorized individuals. One order contains a list of salutes (order 30, pp. 14-15), and others call for the establishment of shipboard schools for midshipmen (order 49, pp. 27-28) and boys (order 51, p. 29). The final order prohibits crews and officers from presenting swords or other acknowledgments to commanding officers (order 57, pp. 32-33).

The Hubert S. Smith Naval Letters and Documents collection is made up of individual manuscripts relating to naval and commercial maritime operations.

The Hubert S. Smith Naval Letters and Documents collection is made up of over 380 manuscript letters and documents relating to maritime military, commercial, financial, and legal subjects from the 15th to the 20th centuries, primarily concerning Great Britain and America. The collection includes materials relating to Continental European wars, the American Revolution, the African slave trade, the Civil War, and exploratory ventures. The collection also reflects day-to-day ship operations and naval employment, diplomacy, marine technology, the purchase and sale of ships, insurance, and publications and books relating to maritime affairs. While primarily focused on English and American navies, the contributors discuss a wide variety of places, including continental Europe, the Baltic region, Russia, Asia, Turkey, South America, and Africa.