LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 333 



I have pondered a good deal over this sentence, and, for the life 

 of me, am unable to discover any necessary connexion between 

 the organization of a corps of scientific men* and the completion 

 of the apartments intended for their reception on shipboard. I 

 had thought these labours might progress simultaneously ; but I 

 forgot you were then making " extraordinary efforts" for the ship 

 ment of seamen, and, with all your energies thus concentrated 

 on a single point, might not be able to attend to other matters ! 



I happen to know something about the appointment of this 

 corps. In December last, a distinguished member of Congress, 

 while in conversation with the president, remarked that no ap- 

 pointments had been made by you in the civil department. The 

 president was surprised at this intelligence, reached out his hand, 

 and rang the bell. A messenger appeared. " Tell the secretary 

 of the navy I wish to see him at twelve o'clock." I do not know 

 that you obeyed this summons, nor do I pretend to say what oc- 

 curred at the interview ; but this I do know, that, within three 

 days from that time, the gentlemen now composing the scientific 

 corps received their commissions. The reluctance with which 

 you made appointments leaves to the late executive the sole credit, 

 so far as you are concerned, of giving to the expedition and the 

 country an able, efficient, scientific board. I make this statement 

 for the benefit of posterity ; that, in coming time, should disputes 

 arise as to the honoured spot or state that gave you birth, the 

 controversy may not be aggravated by any conflicting opinions as 

 to the degree of credit due to you for the share you had in equip- 

 ping and despatching the exploring squadron ! 



Do you remember that, for some time previous to the appoint- 

 ment of the corps, you had intermitted all action in reference to 

 the expedition, waiting, as you said, until Congress should make 

 further appropriations ; though it can be shown, by incontestible 

 documentary evidence, that there was, at the very time, more than 

 one hundred thousand dollars of the past year's appropriation yet 

 unexpended ? I almost forget what the president told you when 

 you first intimated to him that you had no funds with which to 

 go on. He had always a most happy knack in stirring you up to 

 " extraordinary efforts? and the only misfortune was, that severe 

 indisposition prevented him, towards the close of the session, from 







