INTRODUCTION. 



Thus it will be seen that the plan of the expedition had been 

 adopted, and the force to be employed agreed upon. The duty of 

 the secretary of the navy was a plain one simply to execute the 

 law. October came, and although many orders had been given, 

 and some bustle in the way of preparation manifested by the de- 

 partment, the expedition was not half ready for sea. The session 

 of Congress followed, and the time of the secretary, which should 

 have been directed to the fitting out of the squadron, was employ- 

 ed in making official reports, and in personal efforts to mislead 

 Congress, and induce that body to withhold appropriations for the 

 Macedonian, if not for the enterprise entirely. In this design the 

 secretary was defeated. The plan and force agreed to by the 

 President met the views of Congress, and the expense of fitting 

 out the Macedonian was included in the appropriations for the en- 

 suing year. Preparations were now renewed, and were kept hob- 

 bling along, with fair professions, but without sincerity of effort. 

 The feeble health of President Jackson towards the close of his 

 term greatly retarded the progress of the arrangements. He fre- 

 quently, however, interfered, and caused the secretary, though un- 

 willingly, to hasten his movements. The country owes President 

 Jackson much for the lively interest he took in the expedition up 

 to the last moment of his official term. That the new president, 

 Martin Van Buren, infused no new energy into the reluctant secre- 

 tary, may be inferred from the fact, that thirteen months after the 

 measure was authorized, and three months, less one day, after Mr. 

 Van Buren had assumed the duties of his high station by swearing 

 faithfully to execute the laws, we find a plan concocted to form a 

 commission of officers, not only to decide upon the qualities of the 

 vessels, but to inquire and report how far the will of Congress 

 could be contravened, and the operation of its acts suspended, by 

 a withdrawal of part of the force decided upon. To effect this 

 object, the secretary addressed a formal note to President Van Bu- 

 ren, under date " June 5th, 1837," in which he says, " I deem it my 

 duty to lay before you a statement of the condition of the South 

 Sea Surveying and Exploring Expedition, and its effects in afford- 

 ing adequate and prompt protection to our commerce." 



Commodore Jones had made an experimental cruise with the 

 squadron, and had reported, as the secretary admits, his entire 

 confidence in the fitness of the vessels, suggesting only some slight 





