CORRESPONDENCE. 149 



LYCEUM or NATURAL HISTORY, i 

 New York, 1836. * 



DEAR SIR So the expedition has been sanctioned by congress, 

 and the president has determined to have it fitted out on an effi- 

 cient scale, and with the most liberal provision for all the depart- 

 ments of science ? This is, indeed, good news, and we are all 

 delighted with it. The organization of the scientific corps is a 

 matter of great importance, in reference to which, I cannot refrain 

 from throwing out a few hints for your consideration ; although I 

 am not aware that I can communicate any particular information 

 which you have not already obtained, or may not readily obtain, 

 from other and higher sources. I shall, of course, confine my 

 remarks to pure Natural History ; and, in the few suggestions I 

 have to offer, I shall even restrict myself almost entirely to the 

 subject of the botanical department ; not only because, being most 

 in accordance with my immediate pursuits, I am naturally more 

 especially interested in that department ; but, also, because 1 fear 

 that its high importance and great promise of practical utility may 

 be, in some degree, overlooked. The natural history of the exten- 

 sive regions which the projected expedition is designed to explore, 

 is, in all its branches, almost wholly unknown ; and the small and 

 casual collections hitherto made in different voyages, have rather 

 served to excite the curiosity of the scientific world, than to pro- 

 duce any very important practical results. Indeed, more new and 

 interesting objects, both in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, 

 may be confidently expected from these regions, when thoroughly 



