LETTERS OF A FRIEND TO THE NAVY, 385 



In the first place, Congress have made this a surveying and ex- 

 ploring expedition, and not one for the protection of commerce. 

 The armament and equipment of the vessels prepared are en- 

 tirely different from the armament and equipment of vessels sent 

 out for the protection of commerce. The character of the expe- 

 dition is peaceful. The vessels will be prepared to defend them- 

 selves, and the vessels and property of merchants and whalers, 

 against the pirates and natives of the regions they may visit, but 

 not to attack armed vessels of any maritime power with which 

 we may be at war. 



In this enlightened age, it is understood that exploring expedi- 

 tions are exempt from the laws of war, and our vessels engaged 

 in this expedition will not be subject to capture. 



What can be wanted of a scientific corps on an expedition for 

 the protection of commerce ? Nothing can be more incongruous 

 than the slow, patient, and persevering labours of an exploring 

 party, and the rapid movements required for the protection of 

 commerce. Such vessels as are built for this expedition would 

 never leave our ports for the protection of commerce. 



But if the " Citizen" shall succeed in changing the character 

 of this expedition from peaceful to warlike, he will still be per- 

 plexed with difficulties. Suppose, in clearing the decks of one of 

 the vessels, the frigate, for instance, for action, what a scene of 

 confusion skeletons and bones of animals of all kinds, testa- 

 ceous, crustaceous, vertebraled, and invertebrated ; heaps of mol- 

 luscous treasures ; alligators stuffed, " and other skins of ill- 

 shaped fishes," must all, all be tumbled into the ocean without 

 reserve, " rari natantes in gurgite vasto" 



The " Citizen" had much better permit this expedition to re- 

 main, what it was intended to be from the beginning, a peacerui 

 surveying and exploring expedition. 



But he has discovered one important purpose for sending out 

 a frigate which has not been sufficiently noticed. It is nothing 

 less than this, that a salutary effect may be produced upon the 

 fears of the islanders to be visited ; and, as he says, " the natives 

 awed into respect by a judicious display of our power." And 

 then he relates the story of Lord Byron with the frigate Blonde 

 at the Sandwich Islands in 1824, and what was the effect prp- 

 duced on the minds of the savages by the presence of thaj 



ship, &c., &c. 



R 



