144 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



lieve that nearly as much, after all, was done in Paris to make it 

 pre-eminent in the way of embclhs^iments, and in the commenda- 

 ble style in which the French government got out the work, as 

 was effected by D'Urville in the South Seas ; nevertheless, the 

 contributions to science were great, and I doubt if the French 

 people would be willing to resign the honour conferred upon 

 ihem by that voyage alone for a million and a half of dollars ! and 

 yet the citizens of France think as mucli of nioney as we do. 

 Let us, however, go somewhat more into detail, as I feel that 1 

 liave you now on the last plank, and intend to remove even that 

 from beneath you. What were the contributions made to zoology 

 by the naturalists of the Astrolabe? Rich, you will answer. 

 Granted. But by whom were they made ? By any one ap- 

 pointed by the government? No, sir, the voyage would have 

 fallen below mediocrity in this important and leading division 

 of science had it not been for M. Quoy, a volunteer in the expe- 

 dition. In geology, too, the only collections were made by the 

 same gentleman. Would you follow this example ? Would you 

 have a great nation, when making its advent in maritime discovery, 

 depend on adventitious aid ? Would you urge this as a model ? 



Let us next take a glance at this model of models in its other 

 departments of science, and see what there is to be found to war- 

 rant your proposed derangements in the scientific portion of the 

 exploring expedition. The meteorological researches consisted 

 of observations on the thermometer six limes a day, barometer 

 once a day, on the direction and force of winds, and general re- 

 marks on the direction and speed of currents. The experiments 

 of Freycinet and Duperrey were on a far more extensive scale. 

 I'hc only marine thermometer taken out by D'Urville was broken 

 fifteen months after the commencement of the voyage, and, conse- 

 quently, the column recording the varieties of pressure is, after 

 this dale, a blank. Don't you think this part of the model would 

 have been nearer perfection if the French secretary of the navy 

 liad furnished, at least, duplicates of instruments so liable to 

 fracture ? 



Two of the four chronometers taken out by Captain D'Urville 

 were rendered useless, one by being carelessly wound up, the 

 other by firing a salute. The remaining pair had very variable 

 daily rales, and both ran down at Tonga Tabou. Do you not 



