356 LETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



How much time will be required for making the alterations 

 which may be found necessary in these vessels is uncertain; 

 probably not more than a few weeks. The requisite number of 

 seamen are recruited; and unless there should be difficulty in 

 commanding the service of officers upon this expedition, it may 

 leave the United States in time for doubling Cape Horn at the 

 most favourable season of the year. 



A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



July 31, 1837. 



II. 



The facts stated in my former number show that the difficulty 

 and delay of recruiting seamen for the exploring expedition were 

 not to be attributed to the secretary of the navy, nor was he to 

 be charged with the delay occasioned by the necessity of having 

 a thorough examination of the two barks and schooner built ex- 

 pressly for the expedition. But the " Citizen" accuses him of 

 being opposed to the bill authorizing the expedition. 



There has probably been no secretary of the navy who would 

 not have gladly engaged in sending out an exploring expedition, 

 if it could be done in accordance with his own views, and with- 

 out embarrassing him in the performance of other official duties 

 of more immediate importance and of higher responsibility. 



In 1836 the duties to be performed by the navy for the pro- 

 tection of commerce, and which the honour of the nation required 

 should be attended to in preference to all others, exceeded the 

 means of the navy department, as appears by the published ex- 

 tracts from the secretary's reports ; and the imposition of new 

 duties in fitting out an exploring expedition could not fail to in- 

 crease the difficulties of his situation, without relieving him of re- 

 sponsibilities, which effect they have had, to the most serious in- 

 jury of the service. It is not strange that the secretary should 

 feel opposed to the imposition of new duties at a time of so much 

 difficulty; nor is it strange that he should be opposed to the 

 manner in which the provision for the exploring expedition was 

 introduced into the general appropriation bills for the navy. 



