LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 133 



ihey acted. For the sake of illustration, let it be supposed that 

 you succeed in your plans, and connnnence a reorganization. 

 The Peacock is a second-class sloop. Her wardroom will 

 scarcely accommodate her officers, and the cabin on her gundeck 

 is, of course, appropriated to her commander. Where will you 

 put the gentlemen of the corps ? Where will they eat ? Where 

 will they ^.leep ? Their library, their instruments, their stores — 

 where die these to be stowed away ? Their studies — in what 

 portion of the vessel are they to be carried on ? Where do you 

 design the artists should work ? Sir, it is idle to discuss the 

 point ; what you are now trying to do will break up the scientific 

 association, and you know that such is its tendency, that such will 

 be its issue. By crowding the savans on board the several ves- 

 sels you interfere with the limited space and comforts of the 

 watcli-cfjicer ; and feeling this to be the case, their usefulness 

 would be destroyed. Then, with professions of extreme regret^ 

 you will say their numbers must be reduced. Can you reduce 

 them without making their labours a mockery ? Can you do it 

 without blasting the hopes, and trampling on the pride and just 

 expectations of the country ? Let us see, sir, how your reduc- 

 tions are to be made. Take up the list, and begin, to you, the 

 welcome task ! 



First, the philologist : will you dismiss his name from the cat- 

 aloo-ue ? " Every new language is a new development of the 

 human mind." If the great study of mankind be man, surely his 

 most remarkable attribute — speech — should not be neglected. 

 The science of linguistics, or comparative philology, has received 

 marked attention, and is held in the highest estimation in this 

 country amona men of oifted minds, if such individuals as Du- 

 ponceau, Anthon, Galatin, Gibbs, Pickering, Webster, and others 

 of high attainments are entitled to that distinction ; while in Eu- 

 rope, and especially in Germany, it receives the exclusive devo- 

 tion of some of the most learned men of the age. Wonderful 

 results have attended the progress of this comparatively recent 

 science, and still more astonishing developments may be expected. 

 It travels back to remote ages, far beyond the date of authentic 

 history, and shows the affinity among the various tribes of our 

 race, however they may be scattered over the face of the globe. 

 Indeed, by this science alone can the early migrations of man be 



