134 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



traced. How glorious, then, for this country to be the first to ex- 

 tend her inquiries in this deeply interesting department of human 

 knowledge among the groups of the Pacific. But I must con- 

 clude my remarks upon this very interesting theme. Sir, you 

 cannot dismiss the philologist ! 



In the department of natural philosophy or physical science there 

 is but one individual, and, of course, he cannot be dispensed with. 



Chymistry, mineralogy, and zoology, including organic remains, 

 will surely be allowed to afford ample scope for two, when it is 

 remembered that several professors find more than ihey can do 

 in this branch within the limits of a small state, though industri- 

 ously employed for years. 



Your own attainments in botany, so often made manifest in 

 descanting on the flowers of a bouquet when in the Iiands of 

 youth and beauty, will, I am sure, secure to the expedition the 

 botanist and his assistant. 



The department of zoology is well and ably filled by four nat- 

 uralists, exclusive of the comparative anatomist. Pause and re- 

 flect, sir, before you make war on this division. Remember that 

 zoology has ever been a leading object in scientific voyages. Look 

 at Cuvier ; examine his labours well ; and 3'ou will find that, vast 

 and comprehensive as w'ere the researches of that great zoologist, 

 he yet confined himself to but a portion of animated nature. Your 

 ••* naturalists," your " scientific men," often have been exclusively 

 zoologists, and, in most instances, the number of professed zoolo- 

 gists sent out by the "maritime powers of Europe" has been 

 confessedly too small. The science is that of life, and the most 

 valuable observations are drawn from life. The members of this 

 great division will find, during the voyage, more, vastly more, than 

 they can perform, in observing the living world. Yain and pre- 

 sumptuous would be that man, therefore, who would at this day 

 undertake all the branches of zoology. Such a man might make 

 collections for a museum ; bring back specimens ; remnants of 

 death for the inspection of closet philosophers ; but the vastncss 

 of his undertaking would place him, in the scale of natural- 

 ists, about where a pedler of Brandrcth's pills might be supposed 

 to take rank among regular physicians. How, then, can you 

 cut down in this division ? Answer, not to me, but to your coun- 

 try, whose glory you would mar. 



