460 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



fitting appointment for this same officer ! Out of this point much 

 difficulty had been made, and, I have no doubt, one motive of Cap- 

 tain Smith in asking for Lieutenant Wilkes was the hope of recon- 

 ciling conflicting elements. The highest post ever claimed for this 

 individual was now tendered to him. Why was it not accepted? 

 Can you or Governor Dickerson tell ? Where slumbered your au- 

 thority, of which we heard so much when you first took charge of 

 the expedition ? Where was the army discipline you then spoke 

 of using, in making up the personel of the squadron ? Did Lieu- 

 tenant Wilkes find favour in your sight from the fine illustration of 

 army discipline he exhibited in not only declining a better position 

 than he and Dickerson had clamoured for, but also in setting an 

 example of subordination and obedience for young officers, by tell- 

 ing Captain Smith that he would resign his commission in the ser- 

 vice rather than consent to take a subordinate position in the ex- 

 pedition, or, of course, anything short of the entire command ? 

 Such a modest, beautiful exhibit of professional zeal was not to be 

 lost upon you ; and your nice perceptions of justice and high sense 

 of honour, it would seem, at once indicated to you the honoured 

 instrument with which to punish older officers for their unwilling- 

 ness to take command'! Sir, do you believe that there is a sin- 

 gle officer of independent feeling in the navy who believes that 

 Lieutenant Wilkes declined the station offered to him by Captain 

 Smith without having previously received some slight intimation of 

 what was in store for him, and that the time had now arrived when 

 the mask might be thrown aside 1 I do not say that there is any 

 record of this understanding, nor do I expect that either of you will 

 own it; but this I will say, that people will think what they 

 please ; nor can you prevent their thoughts taking the bent to which 

 1 have alluded, especially as only two days elapsed from the 

 time of the refusal evincing so much subordination, discipline, and 

 professional zeal on the part of the lieutenant, before it was cur- 

 rently reported that he had been appointed to the command ! 



It was said that Captain Smith did not give credence to the re- 

 port (believing it, in fact, incredible), and that he called upon you 

 to ascertain what it meant. Did you not then tell him you were 

 just writing a note to him ? and in that note, which he after- 

 ward received, did you not profess to have made every effort in 

 your power, though in vain, to make the arrangements Captain 





