THE WHITE WORLD 



The scientific corps would never submit to having their 

 work sent to the world in the fancy dress of romance, 

 or as light lore adapted only to the center-table or draw- 

 ing-room lounge." But the protest was in vain. The ap- 

 pointment of the Rev. Walter Colton as historiographer 

 was confirmed. 



A routine order from Mr. Dickerson, to the effect that 

 the commander of the expedition should summon two or 

 more of his subordinates to " certify and before his face 

 to seal up and then deliver into his hands all journals, 

 reports, records, collections, etc., made by those under 

 his command," exhausted the patience of Captain Jones. 



" Since by the paragraphs alluded to," he wrote, " the 

 Secretary of the Navy not only questions my honor, but 

 impugns my honesty, only two courses are left; to abandon 

 all pretense of self-respect or to resign." 



He did resign, pleading ill health. Four other post-cap- 

 tains refused the command. The existence of the expedi- 

 tion was in peril. The country had upon its hands five 

 ships, termed in the public press " old waddlers." They 

 were imperfectly equipped, but the scientific corps, despite 

 the consultation with Captain Jones, had provided for so 

 many instruments that room for them aboard could not 

 be found. It was the time when specie payments had 

 been suspended, and money was hard to get. Claims of 

 all kinds were coming to the Secretary of the Navy. Cer- 

 tain members of the scientific corps were complaining 

 because their salaries did not run back to the dates of 

 their appointments. The Rev. Walter Colton, too, re- 

 quested back pay, because his preparation for the expedi- 

 tion had prevented the publication of his little work on 

 the Lights and Shadows of Italy, for which he was to 

 have received a thousand dollars. 



The wits made fun of the enterprise in the papers, and 

 a hard-headed member of the House of Representatives 

 offered a resolution that the expedition should be aban- 

 doned, that a shed should be erected in the yard of the 

 Secretary of the Navy, and that the members of the scien- 

 tific corps should be quartered therein, and set to catch- 

 ing flies. 



In this emergency, however, when the expedition seemed 



