The locket on the rayskin scabbard is inscribed with "Presented by the/PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO/To Lieut James Alden/U.S.N. In token of their/HIGH APPRECIATION/& GRATEFUL RECOLLECTION/of his Services rendered/with surveying Steam/-er Active to their Steamship/California APRIL 1852." on the left side and an eagle and anchor motif on the left side. In 1852, Lt. James Alden Jr. was the commander of the United States Coast Survey ship Active and was conducting the U.S.C.S.'s first hydrographic surveys of the West Coast. The S.S. California was operated by the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. between San Francisco and Panama and was the first steamship to travel from Central America to North America. The inscription relates to an incident in April 1852 during which the California was disabled at San Pedro, and Alden and the Active came to their aid and delivered the mail for the company. The incident is discussed in May 1852 letters between Alden and Samuel W. Comstock, Vice President of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., published within the "Report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey. . ." from 1852. During the Civil War, Alden commanded ships in the Gulf of Mexico. After the war, he served as the commander of the Mare Island Naval Yard in San Francisco Bay and the U.S. European Squadron, retired with the rank of rear admiral in 1873, and died in San Francisco in 1877. The blade has scroll, U.S. Navy, and patriotic themed etching along with the etched Ames maker's mark and "1852" on the right and "P/RBH" inspectors mark visible on the left. The hilt has a "USN" and oak leaf and acorn themed guard, curled sea serpent quillion, sea serpent base of the back guard, rayskin grip with silver wire wrap, and eagle and 13 star pommel. The suspension ring bands have rope designs, the tip has oak leaf and acorn engraving, and the drag has a silver sea serpent design. A very similar sword from the same year is shown on pages 154-155 of "The Ames Sword Company, 1829-1935" by John D. Hamilton and identified as one of 500 ordered by the U.S. Navy Board of Commissioners for the Navy's 487 officers. This sword has a 29 by 1 1/16 inch blade while the example in the book is listed as having a 26 inch blade.

Very good with mild overall wear, attractive aged patinas, general crisp etching and other designs, some minor pitting and oxidation on the blade, nicks and mild wear on the blade edge, and crisp inscription.