130 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



duce, should you succeed, this very end. Do you disclaim the 

 intention ? We shall see the value of the disclaimer by showing, 

 in the first place, the adaptation of the present force to the labours 

 to be performed ; and thcii that the reduction you are urging will 

 derange, if not preclude, all faithful and accurate research. 



The arrangements for the accommodation of the corps in the 

 Macedonian are now fidly completed, and will, in every respect^ 

 enable its members to pursue their avoca^ons without interfering 

 with the necessary discipline of the vessel or infringing on the 

 convenience of any other persons on board. All the officers of 

 the ship, whether of the wardroom, the steerage, or the cockpit, 

 occupy unencumbered the accommodations usually allotted to 

 them in a frigate. Commodore Jones caused a cabin to be con- 

 structed for iiis use on the spardeck, resigning the one usually 

 occupied by him on the gundcck to the sole possession of the 

 corps. It has been fitted up for their reception, and they have 

 all fixed upon their respective rooms ; each having ample space 

 for convenience and comfort. There they have space for their 

 hbrary, which comprises at least one thousand volumes, rare and 

 valuable works on the whole range of the sciences in octavoes, 

 quartoes, and folios ; for their instruments ; and for the pursuit of 

 their investigations ; and there, also, do the artists find suitable 

 facilities, as regards location and light, for the most delicate de- 

 lineations of the pencil. On board the frigate, with all these ad- 

 vantages, would the whole corps be accommodated during the 

 transit from the United States to the field of their active labours. 

 Suppose, then, in reference to these labours, as I did with regard 

 to those of the hydrographers, that the squadron had arrived at 

 the group already mentioned when speaking of the latter ; for 

 the same illustration whicii applies in one case will hold o-ood 

 equally in all others. The frigate has come to anchor at Nave- 

 hetevoo, where she will lie say a month before sailing for another 

 station. This would give to the philologist leisure to piu-sue liis 

 studies. A station would be taken on shore where maiinciic and 

 pendulum observations would be made, for without such a facilily 

 tliey could not be carried on. 'J^hc presence of the frigate would 

 give safety to the comnuuiicatioits with the shore. The botanist, 

 the entomologist, would, under proper escort, proceed to the inte- 

 rior, and the productions of the shore, tlie valleys, and the mount- 



