LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



The country wishes to see an exploring expedition fitted ana 

 sent out commensurate with the proper objects of such an expe- 

 dition, and no greater. It does not wish to pay a million and a 

 half of dollars for what, at most, should cost half a million ; and, 

 especially, it does not wish to send out the specie that will be re- 

 quired for the expedition on the magnificent scheme of Mr. , 



at a time like this, when the specie wanted for the indispensable 

 exigences of the navy can with the greatest difficulty be pro- 

 cured. 



If the secretary of the navy had thought himself authorized to 

 send out the exploring squadron in preference to providing for 

 the Pacific, Brazilian, and West India stations, which he certainly 

 did not, yet he could not have sent out the number of ships re- 

 quired by Mr. , as they are not prepared for service, nor 



will they be for some weeks to come ; and yet, on the part of 

 the secretary, there has not been a moment's delay in having those 

 vessels prepared for sea. The delay, if any, is to be attributed to 

 some other quarter. 



A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



August 1, 1837 



CITIZEN'S LETTERS. 



VII. 



To the Honourable Mahlon Dickerson, Secretary of the Navy. 



SIR, 



The sagacious Prince of Idumea, the patient Job, once said, 

 " Oh ! that mine enemy had written a book ;" the true interpreta- 

 tion of which is, Oh ! that mine antagonist would put his arguments 

 in writing; he has, thank God, done it in this case. Yes, sir, you 

 have at length been aroused. The voice of public censure has 

 reached you, while but a single individual has been found to file 

 for you a plea of not guilty before the bar of public opinion. The 

 Times of 31st July and 1st of August contains his productions 

 over the signature of " A Friend to the Navy ;" which, for the sake 

 of consistency, and in order to leave a more faithful record for the 



