54 LETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



and which the interest as well as the honour of the country de- 

 manded should be attended to in preference to the exploring ex- 

 pedition. 



In the years 1836 and 1837 more has been required and more 

 has been done for the protection of commerce than in any other 

 two years since the late war. 



Before the required number of seamen could be recruited 

 for the exploring expedition, it was discovered that the bark 

 Pioneer was unfit for the service for which she was intended ; 

 and the bark Consort and the schooner Pilot were considered as 

 less fit for the service than the Pioneer ; at least, such was the 

 prevailing opinion among the officers of the navy. 



The secretary of the navy is not to be charged for the want of 

 success in recruiting seamen for the expedition ; and surely he is 

 not to be held responsible for the condition in which the vessels 

 built for the expedition are found. But he will be held responsi- 

 ble to the country if he suflfers these vessels to go on the expedi- 

 tion without a thorough examination. For such an examination 

 appropriate measures were adopted. Delay must ensue ; but this 

 is unavoidable. Delay in our ports is to be preferred to disaster 

 abroad. 



The great ofi'ence on the part of the secretary is, that the com- 

 missioners have been instructed to inquire whether the exploring 

 squadron may not be reduced in number of vessels and men with 

 advantage to the country and without prejudice to the great ob- 

 jects of the expedition. 



If such a reduction can, it is highly expedient that it should 

 take place in the present situation of the country. The exigen- 

 ces of our commerce are such as to render it highly improper to 

 send out a larger force for the purpose of survey and exploration 

 than may be absolutely wanted for those particular objects. Pro- 

 curing the large amount of specie that will be wanted for this en- 

 tire squadron, especially if it is to be increased by the addition of 

 another ship, now required by Commodore Jones, will create 

 much embarrassment. This difficulty was not foreseen at the last 

 session of Congress ; and the circumstance, which is now appa- 

 rent, that we shall lack revenue for the exigences of government 

 in the coming year, wQuld justify the inquiry if there might not 



