LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 507 



Ely Moore, Z. Carey, 



Samuel Barton, George L. Kinnard, 



R. H. Gillet, A. Lane, 



J. Y. Mason, John Cramer, 



James Harper, C. C. Cambreleng, 



John Reed, J. Toucry, 



Benjamin C. Howard, R. Boon/' 



A. Ward, 



*/ 



To the President of the United States 



House of Representatives, 2d July, 1836. 

 SIR, 



' I have learned with pleasure that the Expedition to the South 

 Seas will be despatched in due time, and that you have directed 

 it to be fitted out as becomes the interest and character of the 

 country over which you preside. Yes, I rejoice that you have 

 done so, for I sincerely believe that no act of Congress for years 

 has been so honourable to our national character, none that will 

 reflect more credit on your administration ; as the undertaking will 

 attract the eyes of the whole civilized world, and its results be- 

 come matters of interest and of record in every part of Christen- 

 dom. 



" To be appointed at once, with a liberal allowance, to the first 

 place in the civil department of this expedition, I beg leave strong- 

 ly to recommend my friend J. N. Reynolds, Esq. 



" In reference to this gentleman I must be permitted to speak 

 with freedom, for I have known him long and intimately. His 

 labours in this cause, so perseveringly continued, are well known 

 to the whole country ; in an especial manner are they known and 

 appreciated by the whole of that portion of our fellow-citizens in- 

 terested in the commerce of the Pacific, and who have expressed 

 so much interest in having this expedition fitted out. 



"I was in Providence in October, 1834, when Mr. Reynolds 

 made an address before that body, for the purpose of getting an 

 expression of the Legislature of my state in its favour ; which 

 was readily given, as the people of Rhode Island take a lively 

 interest in the undertaking. 



" From that period to the present session and final action of 

 Congress on this subject, I have held with Mr. Reynolds a con- 



