Celebrities in Washington, 397 



edge of the Sora Rail, a water bird vulgarly supposed to 

 bury itself in the mud and lie torpid all winter. Accom- 

 panied by John, I took tea at Colonel Abert's, and then 

 walked to Mr. Woodbury's, to spend the evening. There 

 the Colonel handed me an order for the use of the cutter, 

 and informed me that the Treasury Department had sub- 

 scribed for one copy of our work. Mr. Woodbur}^ also 

 offered us a passage to Charleston in the cutter, Camp- 

 bell, about to sail for that station. The vessel is only 

 fifty-five tons ; and although Columbus crossed the Atlan- 

 tic in search of a new world in a barque yet more frail, 

 and although thy husband would go to the world's end 

 after new birds on land, he would not like to go from Bal- 

 timore on such a vessel carrying three guns and twenty- 

 one men. I am now hoping soon to see again the breed- 

 ing grounds of the wood ibis, and the roseate spoonbill. 

 ''^November 9. To-day Colonel Abert called with me 

 on Secretary Dickinson, of the navy. He received us 

 frankly, talked of the great naval and scientific expedition 

 round the world now proposed to be fitted out by the 

 government. To my surprise and delight his views co- 

 incided exactly with mine. He said he was opposed to 

 frigates and large ships, and to great numbers of extra 

 sailors on such an enterprise, when only peaceful objects 

 were intended. We differed, however, respecting the 

 number of the scientific corps : he was for a few, and I 

 for duplicates at least; because in case of death or illness 

 some of the departments of science would suffer if only 

 one person were sent. He asked me respecting the fit- 

 ness of certain persons whose names had been mentioned 

 for the voyage. But I gave evasive answers, not wishing 

 to speak of individuals who are both unfit and inimical to 

 me to this very day. Most sincerely do I hope that this, 

 our first great national expedition, may succeed, not only 

 for the sake of science, but also for the honor of our be- 



