486 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



" ' But it has been very inconvenient.' 



'"I am sorry for it.' 



" * Our expenses have been great ever since we joined the expe- 

 dition.' 



" ' I suppose so, and regret it ; but the government will be lib- 

 eral, I am assured.' 



" ' Well, sir, I thank you for your frankness, which enables- me to 

 decide so soon on the course I am to take. I return to Boston 

 this afternoon. Good -morning, sir.' 



" He thereupon wished me a good-morning, and I did return 

 that afternoon." 



Sir, what a humiliating picture is here presented of the official 

 action of the head of one of the departments in the government 

 of this great nation. If conscious that you were faithfully per-^ 

 forming your duty, why were you sorry to see Mr. Hale ? Above 

 all, why were you anxious to conceal the part you were then- act- 

 ing ? Call on Mr. Paulding / You had better see Mr. Wilkes ! 

 Find arrangements are not yet made I Mr. Paulding will organ- 

 ize the corps ! My interest is only secondary here ! 1 don } t want 

 to take the responsibility of dismissing those members of the corps 

 whom it is determined to exclude from the expedition ! ! ! Don't 

 tell of me!!! 



Sir, I give you credit for one thing : a sense of shame, combined 

 with a commendable desire to preserve your reputation. But the 

 end did not justify the means. You had no right nay, the at- 

 tempt was dishonourable to throw the responsibility on Mr. Paul- 

 ding. You know full well what a hurly-burly you and your com- 

 mander were in when that gentleman's appointment was first an- 

 nounced. You know what efforts were made to mature your 

 plans, so that no alteration could be made by Mr. Paulding, and 

 your famous proclamation was hurried out with a view to preclude 

 the possibility of his interference. All your miserable, short- 

 sighted alterations and plans were decided upon before Mr. Paul- 

 ding took his seat in the cabinet. Neither part nor lot in the mat- 

 ter belongs to him. It was impossible, from his sense of justice, 

 high order of intellect, and pure love of science, to expect his par- 

 ticipation in such meanness and such blunders. You know that 

 what I say is true, and dare not deny it. 



And what, sir, did you mean by " You had better wait and see 



