444 LETTERS OF A. CITIZEN. 



lieve that nearly as much, after all, was done in Paris to make it 

 pre-eminent in the way of embellishments, and in the commenda- 

 ble style in which the French government got out the work, as 

 was effected by D'Urville in the South Seas ; nevertheless, the 

 contributions to science were great, and I doubt if the French 

 people would be willing to resign the honour conferred upon 

 them by that voyage alone for a million and a half of dollars ! and 

 yet the citizens of France think as much of money as we do. 

 Let us, however, go somewhat more into detail, as I feel that I 

 have you now on the last plank, and intend to remove even that 

 from beneath you. What were the contributions made to zoology 

 by the naturalists of the Astrolabe ? Rich, you will answer. 

 Granted. But by whom were they made ? By any one ap- 

 pointed by the government? No, sir, the voyage would have 

 fallen below mediocrity in this important and leading division 

 of science had it not been for M. Quoy, a volunteer in the expe- 

 dition. In geology, too, the only collections were made by the 

 same gentleman. Would you follow this example ? Would you 

 have a great nation, when making its advent in maritime discovery, 

 depend on adventitious aid ? Would you urge this as a model ? 



Let us next take a glance at this model of models in its other 

 departments of science, and see what there is to be found to war- 

 rant your proposed derangements in the scientific portion of the 

 exploring expedition. The meteorological researches consisted 

 of observations on the thermometer six times a day, barometer 

 once a day, on the direction and force of winds, and general re- 

 marks on the direction and speed of currents. The experiments 

 of Freycinet and Duperrey were on a far more extensive scale. 

 The only marine thermometer taken out by D'Urville was broken 

 fifteen months after the commencement of the voyage, and, conse- 

 quently, the column recording the varieties of pressure is, after 

 this date, a blank. Don't you think this part of the model would 

 have been nearer perfection if the French secretary of the navy 

 had furnished, at least, duplicates of instruments so liable to 

 fracture ? 



Two of the four chronometers taken out by Captain D'Urville 

 were rendered useless, one by being carelessly wound up, the 

 other by firing a salute. The remaining pair had very variable 

 daily rates, and both ran down at Tonga Tabou. Do you not 



