LETTERS OP A CITIZEN. 459 



one brig, one schooner, and the storeship. When matters had ar- 

 rived at this crisis, then, and not till then, Captain Kearney, dis- 

 gusted, disheartened, and losing all confidence in being able to ac- 

 complish the objects of the expedition with such a force, retired, 

 as I have heretofore stated. Thus, sir, upon you rests the responsi- 

 bility of having in this instance produced a state of things perfectly 

 in consonance with the whole action of your predecessor, and which 

 has subsequently been used as a justification of the wanton outrage 

 committed upon the feelings and rights of the service, and indi- 

 rectly, at the same time, upon the science of the country. I re- 

 peat, that upon you rests the responsibility, unless you bring in the 

 governor and the commissioners to share it with you, which I am 

 by no means disposed to say you may not justly claim to do. 



In this latter arrangement, the plan of the commissioners, it is 

 well known, w r as to crowd the entire scientific corps on board the 

 store-ship Relief, with canvass-screened state-rooms, to be battened 

 down like live-stock in rough seas and stormy weather. If it were 

 not as generally believed as such an event is generally desired, that 

 the navy board's existence is drawing to a close, my respect for the 

 men composing it would not restrain the expression of my opinions, 

 derived from all that I have seen and know of the baneful influ- 

 ence of that irresponsible concern upon the vital interests of the 

 naval service of the country. From what I have now stated, the 

 public will learn what the navy and many private individuals, as 

 well as public functionaries, have all along known how youfaii- 

 ed in this instance to procure an officer of rank to take charge of 

 the expedition ! ! ! 



After Gregory, the next in hand was Captain Joseph Smith, an 

 officer of high standing, and of liberal and enlarged views. Your 

 treaty operations with this commander were curious, and are de- 

 serving of a brief notice. It will be seen that they were equally 

 insincere on your part with the proffer of official dignity so recent- 

 ly extended to Captain Kearney. Among the junior officers 

 named, Captain Smith asked for Lieutenant Wilkes to command one 

 of the small vessels ; a station in all respects commensurate with 

 his rank, standing, and qualifications. Let it be remembered how 

 short a time had elapsed since this station the command of a 

 small vessel had been mentioned to Commodore Jones by your 

 predecessor, and now locum tenens of the Navy Department, as a 



