LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 103 



means and opportunity of noting with precision the geographical 

 position of their discoveries, it is still less within their power to 

 ascertain the capacity, resources, and productions of the new lands. 

 Whale-ships lost in the process of examining a group of islands 

 or a reef forfeit their ensurance. Even were this otherwise, tinne 

 cannot be spared for such a survey ; and thus a brief note in a 

 vessel's logbook is frequently the only recorded notice of a dan- 

 gerous reef or a new archipelago. It is impossible, however, to 

 examine the reports of our South Sea whaling captains without 

 feeling the value of that mighty mass of rude materials with which 

 they have furnished us. To have those materials carefully ana- 

 lyzed, and a work upon which confident reliance can be placed 

 prepared for future use, is the bounden duty of government. The 

 prosecution of these objects will constitute an important part of 

 the labours of the expedition ; labours which ought not, in justice, 

 to have been delayed till now. Perhaps the silent and unobtrusive 

 manner in which our great ocean concerns are carried on may, in 

 some measure, account for, if it cannot justify, the negligence of 

 our government in not watching with a more vigilant eye the in- 

 terests of our civil marine, and protecting it more effectually by 

 the strong arm of naval power. I put the question to every lib- 

 eral-minded, intelligent individual within these walls, is it honour- 

 able, is it politic or wise — waiving the considerations of humanity 

 and duty — to look supinely on, while our citizens are exposed to 

 shipwreck in seas or coasts, and among islands, of which they 

 possess no charts capable of guiding them aright, and to suffer 

 them to be massacred by savages for lack of such a judicious ex- 

 hibition of maritime strength as would command respect by 

 showing the ability to enforce it ? And yet such is the situation 

 of our commerce in many parts of the world." 



And pray, sir, what is the language of Admiral Kruzenstein, 

 which you have hunted up, in relation to this same report ? Pre- 

 cisely in substance what its author himself held, as will appear 

 from the translation quoted below. 



" At the time when the American government contemplated fit- 

 ting out an expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean, Mr. Reynolds 

 presented to the secretary of the navy, ]\Ir. Southard, a memorial, 

 of which a copy has been communicated to me, in which he pre- 

 sents the results of the researches made by him in the different 



