432 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



by what they can, conjointly, do for him. Thus the individuals 

 of the corps may separate, as occasion shall require, and a part of 

 them accompany the small vessels in their exploring excursions ; 

 bringing, by these means, all portions of a group or island under 

 observation and contribution; while such researches as cannot 

 be made without spending considerable time at a single spot will 

 always be the province of those on board the frigate, which ves- 

 sel will constitute the floating friendly port and homestead of all. 

 To her all would return when the desired objects at any particu- 

 lar station had been attained. The hydrographer (and, in fact, 

 every officer would be a member of the hydrographical corps) 

 would carefully analyze and arrange the materials gathered in 

 each survey, and consecutively imbody them in one continuous 

 chart ; while the commander, after having directed all these varied 

 employments, would see that the results were clearly and faith- 

 fully recorded, so that they should, through all coming time, 

 prove a guide to the mariner who followed in his track. The 

 corps, laden with treasures from every portion of the group which 

 they had separated to examine, would again meet on board the 

 frigate, from which they might, some of them, have been absent 

 for several months. Here, without incommoding others, or being 

 themselves incommoded, with the appliances of an ample library, 

 the use of instruments, and the assistance of artists, everything 

 could be analyzed and delineated, to be afterward labelled and 

 carefully preserved ; for all which operations there would be a 

 sufficiency of room. Thus, sir, it is apparent that no less to the 

 success of scientific inquiry than to the proper accomplishment of 

 the great objects of survey, friendly intercourse with the natives, 

 and the protection of our commercial interests, is the frigate in- 

 dispensable. Without her the expedition may be sent out, but it 

 will reflect comparatively little honour on the senders. 



If rumour speak true, your recent commission, consisting of 

 Commodores Hull, Biddle, and Captain Aulick, without having 

 visited the squadron, and certainly without having had much time 

 to examine the real purposes of the enterprise, have given a re- 

 port which pleases you ; inasmuch as it is said to recommend the 

 substitution of the sloop-of-war Peacock for the Macedonian, and 

 a diminution in the number of minor vessels. I cast no censure 

 upon this board, not having seen the instructions under which 



