ADDRESS. 29 



ments not only of our commercial cities, but of the legislatures 

 of states, comprising more than half the population of the union, 

 and represented on the floor of congress by one hundred and 

 twenty-nine members, imposed upon the department a duty 

 clearly definable, and requiring prompt and decisive action. 

 There was neither time nor pretext for further delay. Measures 

 were accordingly adopted, and every preliminary step taken to 

 forward the enterprise. Though no specific appropriation had 

 been made, yet, by the tenour of the resolutions, the whole 

 resources of the Department might be legitimately employed to 

 promote it, since usage has admitted a yet bolder and wider range 

 so long as the action of the Department has been directed to sub- 

 serve the general interests of the service, especially if it did not 

 require " additional appropriations during the current year." But 

 another session was at hand ; and the President, in his message to 

 congress, dated December 1, 1828, recognized the importance of 

 the measure ; while the Secretary of the Navy, in his annual 

 report to the Executive, gave an expos of what had been done 

 preparatory to carrying the views of congress into effect. 



Thus, during the recess, orders had been given to repair the 

 Peacock with a view to the expedition, and all necessary repairs 

 had been made; officers of approved skill had been ordered to 

 hold themselves in readiness, and were eager to be employed in 

 the enterprise; while suitable seamen were enlisted, and orders 

 given to prepare the requisite books and mathematical instru- 

 ments ; and correspondence had been held with some of our most 

 distinguished scientific men throughout the land, in order to facili- 

 tate the selection of persons to be attached to the expedition, and 

 to aid in drawing up instructions. In a word, everything had been 

 done which a prudent foresight could suggest, to render the expe- 

 dition efficient for the protection of our commerce, and honourable 

 to our common country. 



The bill reported during the preceding session was now taken 



