364 CHARLES WILKES. 



firmed by the United States Exploring Expedition 

 in 1841. 



" These corrections were all made on the general 

 charts published by order of Congress in 1844, from 

 the surveys and examinations of the Exploring Ex- 

 pedition, and have been in possession of our ships 

 navigating the Pacific Ocean since that time. 



"By comparing dates, it will be perceived that 

 these 4 discoveries' were known long since, and that 

 the actual amount of error was ascertained some 

 twenty years ago by both the English and French 

 expeditions, and were published by our own Govern- 

 ment, in the results of the Exploring Expedition, a 

 year prior to the earliest date claimed by Colonel 

 Beuton as the time when the observations of 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont were made. 



"With great respect, I am, yours," &c. 



