...A is my desk, B is the door let down to write on, the iron chest [safe] is placed underneath, C is the door, D is the shelf in which is my washbowl, underneath is another shelf in which are holes cut (remember that at sea nothing is placed on a shelf, but in it) for my slop jar, tumbler, water pitcher, soap dish &c &c, all of nice white ware with 'Monitor' on each in gilt letters. Over the wash bowl is a small shelf for hair brush, comb &c. Over this shelf, & the bottom resting on it & reaching nearly to the top of my room, is a large looking glass in a gilt frame. The floor of my room is covered with oil cloth on which is a tapestry rug & on this again is a fine, soft goat's hair mat. E is my berth, wide enough to be comfortable, & just so long that when my head touches one end, my feet touch the other. In front of it is a handsome rail, 8 or 9 inches high, turning down on hinges when I wish, the top of the rail being about on a level with my chin, so I have something of a climb to get into bed. F.F. are two closets, 3 shelves each, back of the berth, but they are so high up & so far back that it is unhandy to get at them. Under the berth are four drawers. The berth, drawers, & closets are all of black-walnut, the curtains are lace and damask, or an imitation I suppose. For a seat I have a camp stool covered with a piece of tapestry carpet.

Capt. Ericsson fitted our rooms up at his own expense & has been very liberal. I have been on board of nearly all the vessels that have left the Yard since I have been here & have seen no room as handsomely fitted up as ours. The only objection is they are too dark. I have all my writing to [do] by candle light & lamps are always burning in the ward room....

Our rooms are all open at the top, for ventilation, & the doors are blinds [louvered], so that as far as sounds are concerned we might as well be in one room. While writing now, every word spoken by the circle around the wardroom table is as audible as if they were seated by my elbow.