126 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



are five ; and let it be borne in mind that to them is committed 

 the task of delineating not only every object in the scenery ne- 

 cessary to convey a correct idea of the islands visited, the exact 

 physiognomy and appearance of tiie natives, their manufactures, 

 habitations, &;c., but also of portraying numerous species in nat- 

 ural history, of vvhich the representations are required to be ex- 

 ceedingly minute and accurate ; and through these means of fix- 

 ing by ocular demonstration what words alone can never convey 

 with that correctness so indispensable in the details of science. 

 Were it possible to reason with you in any matter connected 

 yvith this measure, it would be easy to show ihat the number of 

 artists should be augmented. Most certainly, a decrease in their 

 numbers would seriously affect the interests of the expedition. 



Thirdly. In the selection of professional men for each distinct 

 subdivision of scientific inquiries, who are expected to devote 

 their exclusive altention to ihat branch of science which has been 

 more immediately the subject of their investigation, is the number 

 of departinenis to vvhich principals have been appointed too great ? 

 You say that such is the case ; but the reply is conclusive that 

 this division has been made in accordance with the suggestions of 

 persons of the first scientific attainments ; and that there is no one 

 of the departments vvhich is not considered to be of suflScient im- 

 portance to form a science of itself, and to have professors during 

 their whole lives solely devoted to its cultivation ! 



Fourthly. In the appointment of a meteorologist and mechan- 

 ical philosopher, not merely to make barometrical and thermoiuct- 

 rical experiments, but an individual uniting a thorough knowl- 

 edge of the properties of matter with a capacity for acute original 

 research. 



Fifthly. In zoology. Here, instead of a single zoologist, vviili 

 four or five assistants, aide naturalistcs, the respective branches 

 are allotted to different naturalists, each of whom, however indus- 

 trious, has an ample field for his labours. The zoologists, there- 

 fore, will not be merely collectors sent out to grasp up animals 

 and preserve specimens for home inspection and dissertation, 

 but men of liigh acquirements sent out to study the organic world 

 alive, /ooloiry, in addition to that of the animal world, includes 

 the physical history of the varied tribes of man. It is to zoology 

 chiefly that anatomy is now looking for light ; and many animals, 



