CHARLES WILKES 
213 
chases of the necessary instruments for the expedition. 
In his absence troubles thickened round the promoters 
of the expedition, which it is now unnecessary even if 
it were possible to particularise. On his return Wilkes 
found that he was expected to act as a member of the 
scientfic corps and not as an executive officer. This he 
felt, he could not do with honour to himself and he 
gave up all connection with the expedition, betaking him- 
self to marine surveying. 
The Navy Department, while compelled by the Act of 
Congress to equip the expedition, did so without any 
heart for the work. The friends of Mr. Reynolds felt 
that they had a serious grievance, nor did they hesitate 
to say so, and for two years things went from bad to 
worse. Jones threw up the command, the next two 
officers to whom it was offered declined or were unable 
to accept it. Captain Gregory who got the next offer 
refused to have anything to do with it as he was a friend 
of Reynolds and resented the treatment that gentleman 
had received. 
All this time supplies of all sorts were being accumu- 
lated without supervision, the ships appointed for the 
service were surveyed and overhauled in a perfunctory 
manner, and although the learned societies of the United 
States, especially the Philosophical Society of Philadel- 
phia, formulated plans for scientific work, there was no 
one to see that the arrangements necessary for their 
accomplishment were made. 
Discontent had already taken root amongst the idle 
crews, tired with the long delay. The public were dis- 
gusted with the procrastination and vacillation of the 
authorities and the expedition was denounced as an utter 
failure before ever it started. At last on March 20th, 
