126 CORRESPONDENCE. 



' 

 WASHINGTON, July 3, 1836. 



DEAR SIR I am truly happy to hear that a voyage of discov- 

 ery to the Southern Pacific is at length resolved on, and that one 

 of your activity, perseverance, and practical good sense, is to be 

 connected with it. The glory which will redound to the nation 

 from such an expedition, well fitted out, is a pleasing reflection to 

 the patriot ; but the new channels that it will open to pur com- 

 merce, and the solid additions it will give to science, are- far more 

 important considerations. 



I trust that no restricted or ill-timed notions of economy on the 

 part of the government may mar the full completion of the enter- 

 prise. Especially, a sufficient number of really competent men of 

 science should be obtained, at any price ; nor should more than one 

 branch be confided to any individual, if it can be avoided. The 

 more limited the field of each, the more complete will be his re- 

 searches. Thus there should be a natural historian, a botanist, an 

 entomologist, a geologist, a mineralogist, &c. In addition to the 

 physician or surgeon, unless he be skilful in that branch, there 

 should also be a good anatomist. Not less than three painters, 

 also, should be secured, viz. : in landscape painting, portraits, and 

 natural history. The anatomist and portrait painter together may 

 throw new light on the varieties of the human race. If possible, 

 it is important to obtain one well acquainted with languages and 

 philology, as they still require much elucidation in the regions you 

 will visit. The commercial investigations, I presume, you will 

 take under your own charge. I should drop many suggestions, 



