IN NEW YORK HARBOR. 21 
whale-Loats, and three anthracite stoves, made part of 
the outfit. 
In a word, every thing about the two vessels bore 
the marks of intelligent foresight and unsparing ex- 
penditure. 
With the governmental arrangements we were not 
so fortunate. It seems to be inseparable from national 
as well as corporate administration, that it is less ef- 
fective than the action of individuals. Neither our 
own^avy nor that of Great Britain attains results so 
cheaply, promptly, or well, as the commercial marine ; 
and it is a fact, only expressed from a sad conviction 
of its truth, that, in spite of the disciplined intelligence 
of many of our officers, the naval service of the public 
is regarded among our merchant brethren, and by the 
community they belong to, as non-progressive and old- 
fashioned in all that admits of comparison between 
the two. They excel us in equipment, and speed, 
and substantial economy. 
I can not, then, say much in praise of either the dis- 
patch or excellence of our strictly naval equipment. 
There were other things, besides the diminutive size 
of our brigs, to remind one of the days of the ancient 
mariners. Some that were matters of serious vexation 
at the moment may be forgotten now, or remembered 
with a smile. Our heterogeneous collection of obso- 
lete old carbines, with the impracticable ball-cartridges 
that accompanied them, gave us many a laugh before 
we got home. Thanks to the incessant labors of our 
commander, and the exhaustless liberality of Mr. Grin- 
nell, most of our deficiencies were made up, and we 
effected our departure in time for the navigation of 
Baffin's Bay. 
Our crews consisted of man-of-war's-men of various 
