330 LIFE OP AUDUBON. 



before the next Congress, and I bid him adieu, hoping for the 

 best. 



" Called on Mr. John S. Mechan, librarian to Congress, and 

 found him among his books. After some agreeable conversation 

 respecting his work and my own, he asked me to dine with him 

 to-day, and to-morrow to \dsit the curious chimney-sweep pos- 

 ^sessing curious knowledge of the Sora Kail, &c. Accompanied 

 by J^j I took tea at Colonel Abert's, and then walked to 

 Mr. ^radbury's^ to spend the evening. There the Colonel 

 handed me an order for the use of the cutter, and informed me 

 that theJTreasury Department had subscribed for one copy of our 

 work. Mr. Bradbur j^ also oifered us a passage to Charlestown 

 in the cutter, Campbell, about to sail for that station. The 

 vessel is only fifty-five tons ; and although Columbus crossed the 

 Atlantic 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 Baltimore on such 

 a vessel carrying three guns and twenty-one men. I am now 

 hoping soon to see again the breeding grounds of the wood ibis, 

 and the roseate spoonbill. 



"November 9. To day Colonel Abort called with me on 

 Secretary Dickenson 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 suq)rise and delight his views coincided 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, respect- 

 ing 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 fitness 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 scientific 

 expedition, may succeed, not only for the sake of science, but 

 also for the honour of our beloved country. I strongly recom- 

 mended George Lehman, my former assistant, as he is in every 



