CORRESPONDENCE. 135 



BOSTON, July 30, 1836. 



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SIR I have seen, with much satisfaction, that the Government 

 of the United States has decided to fit out an exploring expedition, 

 with a particular view to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, on which 

 you had already collected so much valuable information. The 

 expedition, as the newspapers inform us, is to be placed upon the 

 most liberal footing, in respect to all subjects of scientific inquiry ; 

 and I trust, with the aid of the intelligent commander and officers, 

 we shall have rich additions to the stock of knowledge already in 

 possession of the learned world. 



Feeling an extreme solicitude that the expedition should, for the 

 honor of our country, accomplish as much as possible, and that no 

 disappointment should be experienced, in any department of know- 

 ledge, by the learned of Europe, as well as of our own country, (for 

 this is the common cause of all nations, and not of America alone,) 

 I hope it will not be deemed obtrusive if I should again ask your 

 attention, and, through you, that of the government, to one import- 

 ant subject of inquiry, about which I formerly conversed with you: 

 I mean the various native languages of the different tribes of peo- 

 ple that may be visited by the expedition. I take the liberty thus 

 particularly to invite attention to this department of knowledge, be- 

 cause it has not hitherto been so much the subject of investigation 

 with the intelligent and enterprising navigators and travellers of our 

 own country, as it has with those of some other nations; among 

 whom, the Germans stand pre-eminent. But yet, as a portion of 

 that knowledge which all are desirous to obtain respecting the 



