456 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



motion with the conditions annexed, he was promoted and also ap- 

 pointed to the command. Did you not then tell the public, through 

 Congress, that Captain Gregory had been ordered to the command, 

 and that he would not be relieved ? Was he not, at your instance, 

 ordered to report to Commodore Ridgely, and did he not thus re- 

 port for duty in this enterprise ? Why, and for what purpose, was 

 he superseded in this command, and by what process was Lieutenant 

 Wilkes put in his place 1 Was not Captain Gregory a marked 

 man, even before he left Washington for New- York to assume the 

 command of the expedition, because he had not intimated his 

 readiness to assume the responsibility of objecting to a certain indi- 

 vidual, or, rather, to certain individuals, whom it was your wish to 

 sever from the expedition ; an act which you lacked the moral 

 courage to do yourself openly and aboveboard 1 What conver- 

 sations did you hold what arguments did you use with your lieu- 

 tenant on this point before he was installed commander ? Was 

 not the price of the extraordinary favours bestowed on him, his 

 previous consent to do what no other officer would agree to per- 

 form, viz., to help you to help Governor Dickerson to exclude an 

 individual or individuals who had never played the sycophant, or 

 done aught justly to offend, or, especially, to conciliate your favour ? 

 Your conscience on a death-bed would answer all these questions in 

 the affirmative, though in good health I presume you would not be 

 willing to own them. At any rate, should any of the clique turn 

 state's evidence, it would be an easy matter to prove the affirma- 

 tive. Having now fairly started in this matter, you may expect to 

 hear from me again. 



Respectfully, 



Your obedient servant and fellow 



CITIZEN. 



New- York, June 10, 1839. 



XIV. 



To the Honourable Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War. 



Sm, 



I resume, with the first leisure hour since my last letter, the re- 

 iw I therein commenced of your Jesuitical action in connexion 



