388 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



discretion, it is believed they will treat the officers of the navy 

 with whom they may be associated with the respect due to their 

 character and profession. 



Although the secretary of the navy believes that a smaller force 

 for the exploring expedition would be more efficient, and that a 

 frigate is a larger vessel than this particular service requires, yet, 

 as their employment is authorized by Congress, he has given all 

 the orders necessary for having them fitted and prepared for this 

 service, and doubts not, we are aware, that from the enterprise 

 much benefit will result to the commerce and navigation of our 

 country, and great advances made in many important branches of 

 science. It has been shown, however, that he believes that all 

 these results could be obtained at one third of the expense of this 

 expedition, and with a tenth part of the noise. He has some old- 

 fashioned notions of economy about him, which many believe to 

 be out of time and out of place. But he considers a million of 

 dollars worth saving. It would, in his opinion, build a drydock, 

 and he would not give one drydock for a mountain of molluscous 

 treasures. 



A FRIEND TO THE NAVY. 



August 25, 1837. 



CITIZEN'S LETTERS. 



VIII. 



To the Honourable Mahlon Dickerson, Secretary of the Navy. 



SIR, 



What " A Friend to the Navy" said in his first number has 

 been examined. That illustrious writer very complacently com- 

 mences his second by assuming that the facts stated in his former 

 communication had entirely exonerated you from all censure, 

 both as to the tardiness in shipping men and the delay which had 

 occurred in preparing vessels for the expedition. If you can feel 

 any self-gratulation in his defence on these points, I should deem 

 it cruel to disturb your quiet enjoyment of it ; so I shall pass on to 

 notice some of the positions assumed by you or for you, which are 

 among the most extraordinary it has ever been my lot to observe 

 emanating from a dignified source. I shall take them up in order. 



