466 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



XV. 



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



SIR, 



As promised in the conclusion of my last letter, I proceed to 

 examine the pitiful subterfuge which you have attempted to play 

 off upon the community, at once as a defence and justification of 

 your indefensible conduct. Upon the strict requirements of the 

 law, the usages of the service, the principles of common justice, the 

 paramount considerations of the public good in the success of the 

 expedition, you dared not rely for your vindication, and hence the 

 public was to be amused by a " tub thrown to a whale," in the 

 shape of a pompous proclamation, which I here subjoin : 



*:'.^' 



EXPLORING EXPEDITION. Naval General Orders. -The arma- 

 ment of the exploring expedition being adapted merely for its ne- 

 cessary defence, while engaged in the examination and survey of 

 the islands of the Southern Ocean, against any attempt to disturb 

 its operations by the savage and warlike inhabitants of those isl- 

 ands ; and the object which it is designed to promote being alto- 

 gether scientific and useful, intended equally for the benefit of the 

 United States and of all the commercial nations of the world, it is 

 considered to be so entirely divested of all military character, that, 

 even in the event of the country being involved in a war before the 

 return of the squadron, its path will be peaceful, and its pursuits re- 

 spected by all belligerents. The president has therefore thought 

 proper, in assigning officers to the command of this squadron, to de- 

 part from the usual custom of selecting them from the senior ranks of 

 the navy, and according to their respective grades in the service, 

 and has appointed Lieutenant Charles Wilkes first officer to com- 

 mand the exploring squadron, and Lieutenant William L. Hudson 

 to command the ship Peacock, and to be second officer of said 

 squadron, and to take command thereof in the event of the death 

 of the first officer, or his disability, from accident or sickness, to 

 conduct the operations of the expedition. 



Navy Department, June 22, 1838, 



