56 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANXETTE. 



to Washington by the Secretary, and the result of their 

 conference appeared in a letter which Captain De Long 

 wrote to Mr. Bennett from Washington, February 20, 

 1879. 



" When the request was made to the Secretaiy to send for 

 me to confer with hun, he lost no time in doing so. I reached 

 Washington on the 15tli, and had a short interview with him 

 on that date, and a long one on the 19th. Nothing could ex- 

 ceed the pleasure of my reception on both occasions. He 

 expressed himself as personally and officially interested in the 

 success of the expedition, and indicated his conviction that we 

 had struck the gateway to the Pole, He assured me that as 

 soon as the bill now before Congress should pass, authorizing 

 him to assume charge of the expedition, nothing should be left 

 undone which we desired to be done. Said he in substance : 

 ' As soon as the bill passes I shall order you officially to the 

 command, and then you shall have just what you want in your 

 own fashion, shall have just as much and just as little work 

 done as you desire, shall get what men you want, how and 

 where you please, shall equip and prepare your expedition 

 after your own designs, and shall, in fine, have all the aid the 

 Navy Department can give you. When you sail I intend you 

 to have the same power that is conferred upon admirals com- 

 manding fleets, with the addition of being absolute in your 

 command and authority, holding your subordinates accounta- 

 ble to you, and yourself accountable to me. This expedition 

 must succeed, and you shall be prepared and forearmed against 

 all disaffection, insubordination, and disaster.' 



" Surely nothing finer than this can be asked. The bill 

 provides for using an}'^ material now on hand at the disposal 

 of the Department." 



It may be added to this that the Secretary's good 

 will was doubtless reinforced by the contagious ear- 

 nestness of his visitor. Secretary Thompson has since 

 said, in a speech delivered at the Melville-Berry recep- 

 tion at the National Capital, September 23, 1882 : — 



