LETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 5^ 



Iraordinary exertions. Measures were therefore taken to recruit 

 men for this particular service under the direction and super- 

 intendence of Captain Jones, and Lieutenants Tatnall, R. R. 

 Pinckham, Purviance, and H. W. Morris were ordered to report 

 to him for service in recruiting for this expedition ; and others were 

 subsequently ordered for the same service. It is believed that 

 due diligence has been exercised by the officers on this service 

 to recruit the requisite number of men, but without the success 

 that had been anticipated. This is partly owing to the necessity 

 of recruiting at the same time for the Pacific, Brazilian, and West 

 India stations ; and of the five hundred and eighteen seamen, or- 

 dinary seamen, landsmen, and boys required for the several ves- 

 sels of the exploring squadron, no more than two hundred and 

 forty-eight have been yet recruited, as by the last returns. 



" The difficulties, however, which have retarded the recruiting 

 for this expedition are nearly obviated ; and it is confidently 

 hoped that in a short time there will be sufficient numbers re- 

 cruited to complete the crews of all the vessels of the squadron." 



This report was transmitted to the House of Representatives 

 with an expression of a wish, on the part of the president, that all 

 facilities might be given to the exploring expedition that Congress 

 could bestow and the honour of the nation demand. 



If the objects of the expedition indispensably required the em- 

 ployment of five, or even six ships, and the honour of the nation 

 demanded the employment of so large a force, then was Presi- 

 dent Jackson in favour of it, not otherwise. 



Congress in February last made appropriations under which 

 five ships might be employed on this expedition, but did not re- 

 quire that so large a force should be employed unless, agreeably 

 to the condition of the act authorizing the measure, such force 

 should be necessary and proper to render the expedition efficient 

 and useful. The appropriations do not require the needless ex- 

 penditure of money ; nor do they in the slightest degree interfere 

 with the propriety of reducing this force, if the interest of the 

 country should require it. 



The character of the expedition has not been changed ; it was 

 originally a surveying and exploring expedition, and is so still. 



By the reports cited it will appear that there was extreme dif- 

 ficulty in extending to our commerce all the protection due to it, 



