58 LETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



ing tempests, as easy to be attained and followed as the paved 

 streets of a populous city." Page 16. 



That " in every part of the earth's circumference where a keel 

 can go our countrymen are to be found gleaning the molluscous 

 treasures from the coral reefs in equatorial cHmes," &c. P. 24. 



That "what men can do they (American seamen) have always 

 felt ready to attempt ; what man has done it is their character to 

 feel able to do ; whether it be to grapple with an enemy on the 

 deep, or to pursue the gigantic game under the burning line with 

 an intelligence and ardour that ensure success, or, pushing their 

 adventurous barks into the high southern latitudes, to circle the 

 globe within the antarctic circle, and attain the pole itself; yea, 

 to cast anchor on that point where all the meridians terminate, 

 where our eagle and star-spangled banner may be unfurled and 

 planted, and left to wave on the axis of the earth itself!" P. 99. 



This address contains many other passages equally delectable 

 and instructive. 



It is certainly news to the naval officers that the improvements 

 in mathematical instruments have made the path of the mariner 

 in the darkest night, and amid rushing tempests, as easy to be at- 

 tained and followed as a paved street in a populous city. This 

 would be extremely consoling to them could they believe it. 

 But, as this information is so far in advance of anything ever said 

 or ihouglit of by Laplace or Bowditch, the officers must be ex- 

 cused for believing that Mr. was practising upon the cre- 

 dulity of his audience, or that he was totally ignorant of the sub- 

 ject upon which he was speaking. Our officers will also be sur- 

 prised to hear that in every part of the earth's circumference 

 where a keel can go our countrymen are to be found gleaning 

 molluscous treasures from the coral reefs in equatorial climes. 

 As our keels can go into Hudson's Bay and Behring's Straits, our 



countrymen must be there, according to Mr. 's information, 



gleaning molluscous treasures — and from coral reefs too — and 

 those reefs of equatorial climes, whether abounding in molluscous 

 treasures or not. 



From Mr. 's flourish of circlin(T the globe within the an- 



tarctic circle, yea, of casting anchor on tlie point where all the 

 meridians terminate, and of leaving the star-spangled banner to 

 wave on the axis of the earth itself, which he, no doubt, considers 



