384 LETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



through fields of ice, and more fit for that than anything else, the 

 public will expect something more than has been accomplished 

 by any other exploring expedition ; more particularly as the " Cit- 

 izen" himself, in his famous address, page 97, gives it as his delib- 

 erate opinion " that the ninetieth degree, or the South Pole, may 

 be reached by the navigator," unless intercepted by land. The 

 public will expect that high southern and unexplored regions will 

 be examined by our exploring squadron ; and if they return with- 

 out making a nearer approach to the Pole than any other explo- 

 ring expedition has credit for, be assured that no small degree of 

 disappointment and mortification will be manifested by those who 

 have to pay the expense of this enterprise. 



Although it is particularly desirable to extend our researches 

 into high southern latitudes, yet but a very small portion of time 

 can be devoted exclusively to this purpose. While the expedi- 

 tion is out, there will probably be but two seasons, and those 

 short ones, when these high latitudes can be reached without dan- 

 ger ; but those seasons must be improved to the greatest advan- 

 tage, or one of the most interesting objects of the expedition will 

 be lost. Five sixths of the time of the cruise the squadron will 

 be in lower latitudes and milder climates, making surveys and ex- 

 plorations ; discovering islands, rocks, reefs, and shoals ; ascertain- 

 ing latitudes and longitudes ; affording aid and protection to our 

 merchants and whalers ; rescuing wrecked mariners, and perform- 

 ing a variety of other duties not interfering with the legitimate 

 and proper objects of a surveying and exploring expedition. But 

 the results of the examinations in high latitudes, in this one sixth 

 of the time, will be looked to with more intense interest than any 

 others of the whole cruise. 



The " Citizen" is now endeavouring to divert the attention of 

 the public from these examinations in high southern latitudes, be- 

 cause he knows not what to do there with a frigate of thirteen 

 hundred tons burden and drawing twenty feet water. He will be 

 equally perplexed to know what to do with her among the shoals 

 and coral reefs of the South Sea Islands. But, by way of obvi- 

 ating difficulties, he has determined to convert this surveying and 

 exploring expedition into an expedition for the protection of com- 

 merce ; the objects of surveying and exploring being considered 

 by him as of secondary importance. In this he will fail. 



