374 ..ETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



As the attention of the president was incessantly called to sub- 

 jects of great importance, pressed upon him at the close of a 

 most arduous session of Congress, the exploring expedition was 

 suffered to rest for a few days. 



Soon after the middle of June the secretary was instructed to 

 write to the officer selected as commander of the expedition. 

 This was done without delay ; some days were spent before the 

 necessary consultations with this officer could be had as to the 

 vessels to be employed ; whether a sloop-of-war as a flag-ship and 

 smaller vessels, or whether a frigate, a store-ship, two brigs, and 

 a schooner ; whether ships should be repaired, purchased, or 

 built for the purpose ; all these points required and received a few 

 days' consideration. 



The secretary, as soon as he was authorized to do so, gave 

 orders for preparing the ships and for recruiting the seamen. On 

 the 6th of July he gave orders that the frigate Macedonian should 

 be completed without delay, and on the 7th, llth, and 20th of 

 that month orders were given for preparing to build the brigs 

 Pioneer and Consort, and schooner Pilot; with the least practica- 

 ble delay. The completion of the store-ship Relief had been 

 previously ordered. 



The recruiting for this service was put under the superintend- 

 ence of Commodore Jones, and Lieutenants Tatnall, R. R. Pink- 

 ham, Purviance, and H. W. Morris were ordered to report to him 

 fpr duty in this recruiting service as soon as he required them; 

 and others were subsequently ordered at his request for the same 

 service. 



An agent, Lieutenant Wilkes, was selected without delay to go 

 to Europe for the purpose of procuring such instruments and 

 books necessary for the expedition as could not conveniently be 

 procured in the United States. A few days' preparation was in 

 dispensably necessary in this case ; but Lieutenant Wilkes em- 

 barked at New- York for Liverpool on the 8th of August. 



In all this the " Citizen" can see nothing but insufferable delay, 

 for which he holds the secretary responsible. His perceptions 

 have become confused by the monomania under which he has la- 

 boured for the last twelve years, which impels him with irresisti- 

 ble force to the south, to carry into effect his schemes of circling 

 the globe within the antarctic circle ; casting anchor on the point 



