CORRESPONDENCE. 129 



and free access to well selected cabinets and specimens from 

 nature. 



Without intending, in the least degree, to disparage my brother 

 officers' just claim to general intelligence, even beyond the neces- 

 sary qualifications, I must nevertheless say that I think it more than 

 probable that most of the departments in science could be better 

 filled from some of the most celebrated literary institutions of the 

 country than could be expected from the navy ; but as the expedi- 

 tion is to be a national one, native born citizens only should be 

 allowed to participate in it. 



With this understanding of the objects of the voyage, I should 

 say, the very best organization of the force, so as to leave nothing 

 to chance, and to place it perfectly within the power of those 

 intrusted with its conduct to meet the high expectations of this 

 nation and of the scientific world at large, it ought to consist of 

 two schooners of about one hundred tons burthen each, two brigs 

 of two hundred tons, and a small frigate, or at least a large frigate- 

 built sloop of war. 



The brigs and schooners ought to be built for the express pur- 

 pose ; they should be strong, but not clumsy ; on the contrary, they 

 ought to be fair sailers, work and stow well, with comfortable ac- 

 commodations for all on board. The largest ship might ought 

 to be the little new six-and-thirty gun frigate now ready for 

 launching from the Gosport navy yard. I believe she was built to 

 replace the Macedonian, but she is quite too small to bear the name 

 of a prize ship pronounced, when captured, to be fully equal to her 

 noble captor, the United States of 44 guns ; but be that as it may, 

 the ship I allude to, on the stocks at Gosport, is the most appropri- 

 ate vessel which the navy can supply as the principal ship for the 

 exploring service ; and, in addition to the vessels above enumerated, 

 it will, of course, occur to every reflecting mind, that a storeship 

 of three or four hundred tons burthen will be an indispensable 



accompaniment. 



17 



