338 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



members, bears directly and unequivocally upon these points, and 

 proves that, to them, all others were subsidiary. Such, then, being 

 the paramount objects in view, it was decided that the opportuni- 

 ties which would be afforded by the contemplated explorations 

 and surveys should not be lost to the cause of science ; and hence, 

 by the direction of the executive, with the sanction of Congress, 

 provision was made for an able scientific corps ; not, I repeat, as 

 a primary, but as a collateral department, which neither interest, 

 the spirit of the age, nor a regard for our station among the en- 

 lightened of all nations would permit us to overlook in the gen- 

 eral organization. 



But, sir, for the still further illustration of your " extraordinary 

 efforts" and desire " to prevent delay" I will suppose you to have 

 been sincere in stating that the " scientific researches of these 

 gentlemen form the leading objects of the expedition." Now I 

 think it a fair supposition that the most important objects of any 

 plan should receive the first attention, and, at all events, that they 

 ought not to be the last considered. What has been the fact as 

 regards you ? 



Let us see. Three months, wanting two days, after the bill 

 had passed, you sent an agent to Europe, as you inform us in 

 your communication to Congress of the 6th February, for the 

 purpose of preventing " any delay that might arise from the want 

 of mathematical, astronomical, and philosophical instruments 

 books, maps, charts," &c. I can hardly forbear a smile when I 

 read your remark about preventing delay ! Why were not the 

 "fourteen gentlemen eminent for their scientific attainments" 

 consulted before the agent departed ? Or, if they were at that 

 time unselected, it only shows that you had suffered three months 

 to elapse without having attended to " the most important objects 

 of the expedition /" 



Your agent was furnished with the most " ample means," and 

 to his discretion and knowledge was confided the duty of pro- 

 curing all that was deemed necessary, as regarded books and in- 

 struments, for many branches of science of which he had not the 

 slightest knowledge. This gentleman, you tell us, returned on the 

 23d of January, " having performed the duty assigned to him in 

 the most successful manner ! /" The agent, it would seem, en- 

 tertained the same opinion you have expressed in this endorse- 



