440 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



in this respect compare with foreign models ? " With regard to 

 piovisions," says Freycinet, "everything was allowed that could 

 be required, and extra clothing was furnished for each man gratis." 



Large quantities of concentrated or fresh provisions were fur- 

 nished, and the commander has shown that the government saved 

 money by this liberality ; to say nothing of the preservation of 

 health to which it was conducive. How did you follow this for- 

 eign model in reference to extra clothing ? 1 will answer. When 

 the different rendezvous for the shipment of seamen for the ex- 

 pedition were first opened, wages in the merchant service were 

 high, and recruits came in slowly. Again and again did Commo- 

 dore Jones urge the necessity of promising the men an allowance 

 of extra clothing, as well as the bounty authorized by Congress 

 even for the general service during the past year ; but you refused 

 to hold out the hope of either. Finally, however, when, under 

 every discouragement, the complement of men had at length been 

 shipped, you graciously condescended to allow both. 



Making you perfectly welcome to all the support the voyage 

 of Freycinet can afford you, I will now leave it and take up 

 another; but not till I have informed you that this commander 

 lost his vessel at the Falkland Isles ; from which extraordinary 

 fact you will perceive that a corvette may be wrecked as well as 

 a frigate ! ! 



Next in order of time comes the voyage of Captain Duperrey 

 in the Coquille in the years 1822, '3, '4, '5, seventy-two persons. 

 And for what was this vessel sent out ? To hold conference with 

 the islanders of the Pacific, protect commercial interest, make 

 surveys, &c., &c., &c., and to combine with these accurate sci- 

 entific research ? Look at the work, sir, and you will then find 

 that the " objects of the voyage were again the study of the three 

 kingdoms of nature, magnetism, meteorology, and some observa- 

 tions relative to the determination of the figure of the globe." As 

 to hydrography, it " was proposed to establish or rectify the posi- 

 tion of a great number of points in different parts of the globe." 

 The character, language, manners, &c., of the islanders were also 

 to receive attention. 



" To establish harmony," says Duperry, "we agreed beforehand 

 to divide our labours according to our predominant tastes." 



M. Durville, Botany and Entomology. 



