LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 497 



mander. You must bear in mind that I'm a member of the Philo- 

 sophical Society of Philadelphia, and once had the honour of read- 

 ing a paper on the Cryptogarnus of New-Jersey before its learned 

 members. I don't believe in newfangled lights in botany since 

 that day, and I have no doubt that the experiments of Johnson ou 

 our worthy friend's magnetical data were of the modern and spuri- 

 ous kind ; yet still I don't see the way clear in leaving out John- 

 son. Since I have been a member of the Philosophical Society of 

 Philadelphia, I have learned that he is very highly thought of by 

 such men as Professor Farrar, Professor Silliman, Professor Mitch- 

 ell, and Professor Henry. Besides, I am really fearful of even my 

 little share of the responsibility ; indeed, my responsibility is nearly 

 threadbare. 



Poinsett. We need not fear the responsibility provided we keep 

 true to each other. How can any one find out who did it 1 Be- 

 sides, I mean to lay low, and bring Paulding in for a share ; and 

 you should remember, too, governor, we owe a great deal to our 

 young commander, as you call him, who agrees to do anything 

 and everything we wish. He will protest against Reynolds going 

 in the expedition. Our plan is, that Wilkes shall absolutely refuse 

 to take him, and then I will pretend that, as harmony is all-impor- 

 tant, he, for the sake of harmony, must be left out. 



Dickerson. If that's the case Johnson, off with him ! But I 

 must be permitted to tell the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia 

 I had no hand in it. 



Poinsett. This looks well, and we have now got through with 

 all the business that strikes me at present. As to the artists, and 

 the disposition of that portion of the corps whom we permit to go, 

 why Wilkes may manage them as he likes. Let me impress upon 

 you, however, the importance of keeping our own counsel, and of 

 throwing as much mystery as possible around our doings, because, 

 it must be owned, we are a little vulnerable on some points. We 

 have not reduced the force as we intended ; on the contrary, we 

 have increased the force and reduced the scientific corps, which, in 

 truth, makes the enterprise less scientific, and more naval or mili- 

 tary. We have given Wilkes more enlarged powers, governor, 

 than you conceded to Jones. Wilkes has the privilege of choos- 

 ing his own officers ; this was refused to Jones. We have allowed 

 Wilkes and all his officers increased pay ; this was refused to 



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