Mers du Levant ...

These notes on the navigation of the northern Aegean are signed 'A. Regnard'. A. Regnard has been identified with Joseph Esprit Alexandre Regnard. He signed himself 'A. Regnard', and only once is he referred to as 'Joseph Regnard', commandant of the Brillante (see biographical notice of Philippe Jacques Louis Garreau, 1811-1908). From 1841-1843 he was on the Gulf of Mexico station as commandant of the Brillante, and letters from Regnard to Dr. Isaac Hulse of Pensacola, Florida, were published in Niles National Register for September, 1843, where he signed himself 'A. Regnard, commandant of the Brillante'.

Regnard achieved the rank of 'Lieutenant de Vaisseau' in 1825. From 1827-1829 he commanded the 'Estafette' (Estefette) in the Levant. In 1831 he commanded the Malouines. In 1837 he became 'capitaine de corvette', in 1841 he was assigned to the Gulf of Mexico station, and in 1843 he was made 'capitaine de vaisseau'.

His notes on the navigation of the northern Aegean include a general introduction, where he states that he spent 20 months on the navigation of the Levant. He describes in detail three routes: Cerigo to Smyrna, Smyrna to Thessaloniki, and Smyrna to the Dardanelles. This last is signed by Regnard. The second part, 'Amers', gives the navigational reference points for Milos, Serifos, Siphnos, Saratte (i.e. Syros), Tinos, Myconos, Venetico, Chios channel, Karabournou, Mitylene channel, Agios Efstratios, Scopelos, Cavo d’oro, Mandry (i.e. Zea), Poros, Samos and Milos. These notes are of particular importance because the scientific charting of the Aegean had not yet begun. Thomas Graves did not begin his surveys of the eastern Mediterranean waters until 1836.

The navigational manuscript is accompanied by another manuscript, in a different hand, of a list of ship’s supplies. The list is an illuminating document describing the hundreds of items necessary for a ship of the line.