484 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



A very short time before the day fixed for sailing, a few mem- 

 bers of the corps were cautiously informed that you would conde- 

 scend to see them in Washington on their way to join the squadron 

 at Norfolk. Among those who felt themselves invited was John 

 W. Randall, of Boston, one of the zoologists, to whom was confi- 

 ded the department of " Entomology, or insects of the land and 

 sea" The objects of the expedition being national, Mr. Randall 

 holding an appointment under government, and his visit being on 

 official business, I felt no hesitation in asking him, some time after 

 the departure of the expedition, to furnish me with a statement in 

 writing of what occurred between you during his stay in Washing- 

 ton. Everything connected with his visit and your interview was 

 of a public nature, and such as, under all the circumstances, it is 

 not only proper, but necessary, that the public should know. The 

 conversation which occurred on that occasion sheds a flood of light 

 upon the skulking, shameful manner in which you performed, or, 

 rather, neglected your duty. 



Mr. Hale, the philologist, had also, about this time, repaired to 

 Washington. Your commander of the " altogether scientific" ex- 

 pedition had previously declared, in the plenitude of his authority 

 and scientific acumen, that philology, or the comparative study of 

 languages, was not worth the room its representative would occu- 

 py. Sir, I do not blame him : he knew not what he did, while he 

 knew too much to learn. He had probably never heard assuredly 

 he did not know that from this very science, the comparison of lan- 

 guage, the most important results had been derived ; and that re- 

 sults still more important were to be expected from it, all bearing 

 upon that most important of all subjects, the natural history of 

 man. I have said this much as an apology for your commander, 

 leaving you to make your own. Mr. Hale, without thanks to ei- 

 ther of you, was finally permitted to go. I now return to Mr. 

 Randall and his interview with you, and allow him to speak for 

 himself in the following literal abstract from his letter, dated at 

 Boston, September 20, 1838. 



" As soon as Mr. Poinsett had returned from Norfolk, it was 

 agreed between Mr. Hale and myself that we should go respect- 

 ively and see him. Accordingly, Mr. Hale went first, it being 

 Saturday. ? Fr. Poinsett was very sorry to see him, but told him to 



