406 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



philosophy, and crown with a new and imperishable wreath the 

 nautical glories of our country." 



Allow me to ask, sir, what you find exceptionable in this lan- 

 guage. I do not know that you would rejoice at such an achieve- 

 ment, but I do believe there is not another individual, of the four- 

 teen millions that inhabit our republic, who would not exult in the 

 honour it would confer on the American name. 



If I have rendered myself " ridiculous" by what I have said on 

 this point, you will at least find that I stand in pretty good com- 

 pany. Permit me to commend to your especial notice the fol- 

 lowing account of the French expedition, which your " extraordi- 

 nary efforts" have suffered to precede our own. 



" M. le commandant Dumont d'Urville received on Friday au- 

 dience of his majesty the king. In the interview, which extended 

 beyond half an hour, his majesty reiterated his wishes that the 

 exploring expedition of the Astrolabe and Zelie might realize the 

 anticipations entertained by the former ministers of the marine, 

 and that to France and to his reign may redound the glory of 

 having approached the nearest to the antarctic pole. A reward is 

 promised to the sailors, should they extend their voyage so far as 

 the seventy-fifth degree, and this reward will be augmented in 

 proportion to each degree obtained beyond this designation. ' In 

 case they should approach to the pole,' said his majesty, with en- 

 thusiasm, ' then everything will be granted to the sailors that they 

 may demand.'" 



Now, sir, does this account of the " enthusiasm" of his majesty 

 arouse no spirit of rivalry in your breast ? Does it not suggest 

 an occasion for the American minister of marine to do one act in 

 his official career that shall save the pages of his biography from 

 being consigned to the trunkmakers' and pastrycooks' shops ? 

 What is there that you can do to accomplish such a miracle ? I 

 will tell you. Just draw up a spirited little report, asking of Con- 

 gress the authorization of a reward to be given to the officers and 

 men of the expedition for attaining the seventy-fifth degree south, 

 with an appropriate increase for each additional degree even to 

 that point where all the meridians terminate ; where our eagle and 

 star-spangled banner may be unfurled and planted^ and left to 

 wave at the very pole itself / 



Do but this, and 



