512 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



great republic,' they proceeded to call his attention to the claims 

 of one who had done so much in calling public attention to the 

 importance of the enterprise, and in urging its adoption by Con- 

 gress. The friends of the measure knew the important part Mr. 

 Reynolds had acted, and they were influenced not more by a sense 

 of justice than a desire for the success of the enterprise, in asking 

 for Mr. Reynolds a prominent portion in it. The commercial in- 

 terests of the United States in the seas to be visited are well known 

 to the executive ; they are immense, and still susceptible of great 

 extension. In asking that Mr. Reynolds be placed at the head of 

 the civil department attached to the expedition, was only asking, in 

 other words, that he should receive the appointment of commercial 

 agent. Until recently, many of us supposed that station had been 

 assigned to him ; that he ought to have it, and be authorized to 

 write the official account of the expedition, we have never doubt- 

 ed. That he is eminently qualified to perform these duties, under 

 the sanction and regulations of the department, cannot be doubt- 

 ed ; that he has abundantly earned the distinction which they 

 would confer upon him will admit of as little question. 



" Mr. Reynolds has uttered no complaints to his friends, and it 

 has not been until since the passage of the last bill of appropria- 

 tion that they became aware of the actual position the secretary 

 of the navy had assigned him ; and not even then, till the discus- 

 sions in the House seemed to leave some doubt whether he was to 

 accompany the expedition in any capacity had led to direct in- 

 quiries upon the subject. Any officer conversant with the history 

 of this expedition, and knowing the relation Mr. Reynolds has 

 maintained to it, both in and out of Congress, and should object to 

 his participating largely in its labours, would, from that fact, in the 

 opinion of the undersigned, be himself unfit to command ; and the 

 interests of the expedition and the honour of the country would, 

 in all probability, be best consulted by his dismissal, and the sup- 

 plying of his place by one of more just, liberal, and enlarged 

 views. 



" The undersigned have learned with deep regret, that to Mr. 

 Reynolds, the originator, the indomitable advocate, who has for 

 so long a time persevered against every discouragement, whose 

 knowledge upon the subject has been so fully appreciated by com- 

 mittees and members of Congress, and has enlisted so large a share 



