CORRESPONDENCE 



BETWEEN THE 



CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS 



AND THE 



SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, % 

 Committee on Naval A/airs, March 3, 1828. > 



SIR : The house has referred to the committee on naval affairs 

 several petitions, praying that an expedition may be sent into the 

 Pacific and Southern ocean. 



I am directed by the committee to ask of your department your 

 opinion respecting such an expedition, and briefly your reasons 

 for it ; and, if you shall be of opinion that such an expedition 

 ought to be sent there, to request of you a project of the law to 

 authorize it, with your reasons for its several provisions, and any 

 other information you may be pleased to give on the subject 

 With esteem and respect, I am, sir, 



Your humble servant, 



MICHAEL HOFFMAN. 

 Hon. SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD, 



Secretary of the Navy. 





NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 14, 1828. 



SIR : I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 3d 

 March, in which, on behalf of the committee on naval affairs, you 

 "ask my opinion respecting an exploring expedition into the 

 Pacific and Southern ocean, and, briefly, my reasons for it." 



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