Mr. Couthouy’s Reply to Mr. Dana. 387 
was of necessity very brief and hurried. My own personal rela- 
tions with the commander of the Expedition were in a painfully 
unsettled state, and engrossed almost my entire thoughts and at- 
tention. by veel slg 
If I really saw Mr. Dana’s notes, it will not be considered 
strange, that the circumstance should have escaped my memory 
amid the excitement and: distractions of the occurrences which 
led to my separation from the squadron; especially when it is 
understood that saving my official correspondence, J am without 
note or memorandum of any description, relative to the Expedi- 
tion, or aught that transpired at the island, subsequent to the ar- 
rival of the first of the squadron. 
- Had I remembered any such expression of Mr. Dana’s views as 
he refers to, I should gladly and unhesitatingly have cited a wit- 
ness so competent, in support of my own, whose priority I had 
abundant means of establishing. We certainly conversed freely 
together on all subjects so far as we had opportunity, as was natur 
ral for persons engaged in kindred pursuits, just meeting after a 
year of separation. If Mr. Dana, as he alleges, (and I have no 
objection to admit,) submitted his MSS. to my perusal, assuredly 
he had as free access to mine. 5 cls 
» I may hereafter take occasion to show that he has availed him- 
self of them in a manner that leaves him, fo say the least, equally 
open with myself to the charge of having misused confidence. 
My first duty will be to fully vindicate myself from the accusa- 
tions he has brought against me. When this shall be accom- 
plished, it may then be Mr. D.’s turn to act upon the defensive. 
[trust that I may be pardoned for here observing, that during 
the whole period of my connection with the Expedition, I neg- 
lected no opportunity for noting facts, and making collections in 
Mr. Dana’s departments, both of which were always freely turned 
over to him, without other return being made or sought than the 
satisfaction it afforded me to add my contribution to the general 
stock. In no solitary instance did I return from an excursion 
without some addition to his collections. The additions thus 
D.’s departments—a large proportio 
visited by him. received in exchange, at the extent, some three 
ot four dozen specimens in my departments, and the unmerited 
charge of having abused his confidence. At the very time he 
