LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 429 



utility of the requisitions made by the members of the corps, each 

 for his own department. This commission consisted of the fol- 

 lowing gentlemen, whom to name is to guaranty that whatever 

 they approved was correct : Peter S. Duponceau, Chairman, 

 Professor Robert M. Patterson, Director of the Mint, John K. 

 Kane, Esq., Clement C. Biddle, Esq., Professor Henry C. Vet- 

 hake, and George Ord, Esq. This commission devoted its time 

 to a careful and rigid investigation of every requisition made by 

 the corps ; conferred with the members of the latter ; and, finally, 

 approved every purchase or preparation of consequence which 

 had been made ; and, without its sanction, nothing agreed upon 

 by the individuals of the corps themselves was conceded by your 

 department. Nobly, sir, did the commission meet and discharge 

 the duties which a devotion to the interest of science, and a pride 

 in what the country was about to do, could alone have induced 

 them to assume. They exhibited no narrow views, but were 

 liberal, though not too much so ; and in the result of their exami- 

 nation the country has every security for the fitness of the or- 

 ganization which has been adopted and of the preparations made. 

 It was, of course, to be expected that, in constructing the plan 

 of an enterprise so extensive and so important, some imperfec- 

 tions of detail would unavoidably occur ; but I think I shall be 

 able to show, in my next letter, that a comparison with the 

 "most successful expeditions sent out by the maritime powers 

 of Europe" will demonstrate, that any attempt to reduce its num 

 bers or alter its organization would be the most direct mode of 

 greatly impairing its usefulness, if not of rendering it a nonentity. 

 During the long period which has elapsed since the appointment 

 of the scientific attachees, each has naturally applied himself to a 

 preparation for his particular division of art or science ; and has 

 collected books, procured instruments, and pursued studies, hav- 

 ing exclusive reference to his designated duties. To break up the 

 corps now, when those composing it have made their arrange- 

 ments for a long absence, and laid in their stock of clothing and 

 sea stores, would be not merely to frustrate many and well- 

 founded hopes, but to subject these gentlemen, in addition to what 

 they have already suffered, to serious pecuniary loss. Such a 

 course would be, in fact, a flagrant breach of faith ; and yet, sir, 

 you know that what you are now labouring to effect would pro- 



