LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 489 



him the books. The thing didn't work the way I wanted. I 

 meant to show the general what a small naval force the French 

 had in their expedition, so that he might cut off the Macedonian ; 

 but he wouldn't listen to me. 



You have no idea how difficult it was to resist him in anything 

 he had once set his mind upon. I did all I dared. I delayed the 

 preparations ; harassed Commodore Jones ; sowed discord among 

 the officers ; made them jealous of the scientific corps by insinua- 

 ting that the latter would cheat them out of all the glory ; refused 

 to order any one to join the expedition ; released those who wish- 

 ed to back out ; rewarded those who abused Jones, Reynolds, and 

 the expedition with almost any service they desired ; allowed our 

 young commander to retain in his possession the instruments he 

 brought from Europe, instead of handing them over to Johnson, 

 for whose department they were intended ; corresponded sub rosa 

 with officers under Jones ; and when, after finding out my trickery 

 and the treachery of one of his subordinates, he arrested the latter, 

 the way I reinstated him was a caution to commodores. I was 

 afraid of Congress, however ; so I sent Jones his sailing instructions 

 before that body met. But I knew he couldn't sail, for I had con- 

 trived to keep out of his possession the very instruments by which 

 the vessels were to be navigated. Wilkes, you cunning fellow, 

 you helped me there. Had I time, I would tell you of a thousand 

 more capital tricks. As to the corps, the general compelled me to 

 appoint them. I took care, however, so to word their commissions 

 that they could not draw pay. I afterward did all in my power to 

 disgust them and drive them to resign, as I have no doubt each 

 one of them would testify. Nevertheless, as the old chief was in 

 favour of the expedition, I had to keep up appearances, and to 

 write and speak fair to the friends of the measure, while I took 

 care to retard matters as much as possible. . 



I never openly tried to set the general against the undertaking 

 but once, and that was the first time the subject came up before 

 the cabinet after the law had passed. I told him it was the same 

 expedition that was so nearly ready, under Southard's supervision, 

 at the close of Adams's administration, and which would have ac- 

 tually got off had not Mr.. Woodbury and I cheeked it in the Sen- 

 ate, after the vessels were ready and the bill had passed the House. 

 I soaped the old man by telling him that this occurred just two 



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