LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 485 



call on Mr. Paulding on Monday, and that, meantime, he himself 

 should have seen him ; moreover, requesting Mr. Hale to keep this 

 interview a secret, since he (Poinsett) did not wish to be consider- 

 ed responsible in relation to those gentlemen of the corps whom it 

 was determined to exclude from the expedition. He accordingly 

 told nobody but myself, whom he could not avoid telling, and yet 

 keep up that frankness with regard to his movements (ultimately 

 connected with mine) which our friendly relationship demanded. 

 He enjoined on me secrecy in my interview with Poinsett, which 

 took place on Monday instead of Saturday, because I could not 

 properly see him sooner without exciting suspicion in regard to 

 Hale. I took care, however, by what I said, to involve an appa- 

 rent ignorance of what had happened. I called first upon Mr. 

 Paulding, and asked him whether sailing orders had been made out 

 for me. Mr. Boyle, chief clerk, was called ; they could not be 

 found. I next asked whether any orders were to be made out. He 

 could not tell. * How shall I find out ?' said I. ' You had better 

 see Mr. Wilkes,' said he, ' for he has done pretty much as he 

 pleased in relation to the expedition.' I then called upon Poinsett. 

 Seeing he looked uneasy, I said to him, ' I will only take up two 

 or three minutes of your time, and have not called to ask whether 

 I may accompany the expedition, but whether I am required to ac- 

 company it, for I wish nothing that the government does not wish.' 



" t Final arrangements, sir, have not been made.' 



" ' Nevertheless, can you inform me in regard to myself; for it is 

 very necessary that I should know soon, and govern myself ac- 

 cordingly.' 



" ' You had better wait and see Mr. Wilkes.' 



" ' That I cannot do ; I hold my commission from other au- 

 thority.' 



" * Mr. Paulding will make arrangements with regard to the 

 corps ; you had better see him, my interest here is but secondary.' 



" ' I have seen Mr. Paulding, who says he knows nothing about 

 the matter. It will oblige me, sir, if you can even approximate 

 to a decision concerning me. Shall I probably be called upon V 



," * I think, sir, you will not.' 



" I was called on here, as I supposed, by your orders, in a letter 

 to Mr. Couthouy.' 



" * Mr. Couthouy misunderstood me f This will tear: me to be 

 more careful next time.' 



