HE RESORTS TO THE PEN 29 



where he made some important improvements in its 

 administration. Meanwhile, he had been promoted on 

 June 10, 1836 to the rank of Heutenant, and though he 

 had been offered a salary of $1200 as a mining engineer 

 he decided to remain in the navy. 



Maury's interests were next directed to the Exploring 

 Expedition to the South Seas. The little squadron se- 

 lected to make the cruise, composed of the frigate Mace- 

 donian and the brigs Pioneer and Consort, rendezvoused 

 at Norfolk in the autumn of the year 1836, under the 

 command of Captain Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. 

 Maury made an attempt to secure the command of one 

 of the smaller vessels; but he failed in this, and had to 

 be content with being attached to the Macedonian, 

 March 18, 1837. Secretary of the Navy Dickerson had 

 not, from its inception, been in favor of the expedition, 

 which he looked upon as a scheme by President Jackson 

 for self-glorification. He therefore did all that he could 

 to block the sailing of the squadron by causing unneces- 

 sary delays, not caring for the waste of money involved 

 in this procrastination. In this way the ships were kept 

 at Norfolk until October when they finally sailed for 

 New York. 



In September, Maury had had the good fortune to be 

 appointed ''Astronomer" for the expedition with $1000 

 additional pay, and also as assistant to the ''Hydro- 

 grapher". Lieutenant James Glynn. To prepare himself 

 for these duties he went to Philadelphia, w^here in a little 

 observatory in Rittenhouse Square he soon familiarized 

 himself with the use of astronomical instruments. The 

 expedition, however, still delayed to set sail, and the 

 vexatious interference with his command so affected 

 Captain Jones's health as to give the Secretary of the 



