Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-12

selected for the service scientific corps had been
iorganized; five or six persons, such astrono-
mer, naturalist. craftsman, and surveyors, had
also been engaged, together with an hstoriogra-
pher. One Of these 10 make observations on
our commerce, another 10 write the history Of
the expedition, &c.
The salaries OF these officers, we are ia!,rmct
would each average about 1000 dollars per annum
t-ycne considerably more. and some less The
mathematical instruments had cost about So 900:
4 In addition TO which, extra supplies and provisions
were 10 be procured. These were some OF the cx-
pendiiures already contracted for, and incurred
which had been drawn without any lawful authori-
:; " from the appropriations for the Navy. 1t was
tmpor,ant to have full information on this subject
detailed statement was required OF al the actual
4 expenditures which had been made OF the items
1 OF which IL consisted. as we'll as the whole A.
: mount. and Of what would yet be required 20
+ cover the whole expenses Of the expedition. The
importance OF tie exp, ring expedition was moth
ing. 81 comparison with the Queson-(one OF the
! most irporai, Chat could be discussed,-of the
/! power assumed by the Executive TO tran ster at
pleasure, appropriations made by law 10 certain OBJ
sjccts, 10 ano,her and distinct object not having III
] sanction c. Congress. How far Congress would
subsequently sanction, and thereby legaiIze such
/; a practice, was very important question:: We
require, before making appropriations for ia.
Naval service OF the year, that the estimates shall
! be submitted to as, down 20 the smallest contin-
gency and yet these nigh. always be diverted to
other objects.
I: With regard to this South Polar expedition he
repeated, there was no law TO sanction it, Vet
, TIC Whole country had been led to believe there
! was such law, and the Department had transfcrr-
CO. AZ pleasure, appropriations made by law, TO
ther obects, 10 fitting out a magnificent expedition.
| he would call the attention Of the Senate to a.
mother view OF the subject. 1t was impossible
the public should ever know how much this ex-
petition would cost without calling for this in
iormaton. He would venture the assertion that.
instead OF 90 900 dollars, it would cost near half
million. He had statement before hint had
been made hastily, and was only an estimate, he
admited--but he believed il was sufficiently &C
curs'e al least to serve the purposes Of ist alton,
so as TO put this matter in proper light First the
, Peacock had been rebuilt--a what eos. he did not
know-but most probably at increa sed cost over
! an ordinary sioop Of Take the Boston sloop
which was built at one Of the cheapest yards in
the co'in'ry, es an example, she cost the Govern
meNt 96 900 dollars-tlIc Peacoo. might perhaps
| be put down at hundred thousand. when fitted
out. and fully prepared for a brig had been
purchased at $1,000 dollars, and would probably
require 1000 dullarsfor REPAIRS and as much more
TO TIT her property for the expedition. The Pro.
vsion snip, probably 10000 dollars. The Secre-
tary oil the Navy estimates her at Ii 900 dollars
making 10000 dollars The Agent, 1000 dollars;
instruments, 1000 do'iirs contingencies, IO, 900
dollars. Then come the provisions and seaport OF
these vessels at sea-ordinary sloops of war re-
CURED, he believed, about 10000 dollars per an
num-schooners, about &c, 900 dolars-ssv for the
three vessels employed, $4,000 doars-con,in-
sences, 10000 Misunderstanding 100, 900 dollars
IN round numbers, per aDnum. 1t was probable
the expedition would not be completed in less than
'hFee years Qhc Secretary estimates two years
and hal!,) making 500 900 dollars Add 10 this
the wear and tear Of the vessels &c. and il would
be seen that, before this expedition is coInpletej
The Whole expense would probably not fall much
short OF halt a million of dollar. True, the bill
aPpropriates but $4,000 dollars but this is an add
ton 10 what has already been expended and the
sums TO be hereafter expended, out of t!ie Navy
appropriations. lie would not pretend this state
nent was al al accurate, but il was quite sufii
Gent TO shew that information was wanted from
the Department, that might form some cor
rect idea OF the the country of this expedi-
ton. 10 ORDER 10 determine IL it was worth our
while TO prosecute it,
MIR II. said, that the committee were influenced
oy these views, in ealing for tie .informa ion
required by this resolution The merits OF the
expedition were not intended ~ ne now discussed
but, however important it may be considered by
some gentlemen, II was deemed more important
not 10 sanction the measures that had been pursu-
ed in this business. For himself, he would saw, |
that he considered the plan OF the expedition as
disclosed IN the letter OF the Secretary of the Ma
w, as extremely Objectionable. Here was sci |
enIiiIc corps created by the mere will of an EK-
ecuve oiilcer. already selected. and only waiting
tor the passage of this bill. to receive their appoint
nents They were to receive salaries Of from
!oOO dollars 10 or 5000 dollars. and they werc 20
perform duties which would reduce the off rs
oil the Navy connected with the expedition TO in
significance. The observstions-comme AS
Economical. end scieUtific-were all 10 be made and
reported 20 Government by these Eentlenen and
one o! them was finally TO write and publish The
story OF the voyage. What, he would ask, was
10 be ieit 10 the Naval Ohicers' They mere. |
" to command the sailors. aud TO navigate the
Slips The Captain (as gallant and Intelligent an |
officer as any in the service.) to incur all the
responsibility, without sharing in the honor that !
might be acquired. IL il should be the opinion OF
The Senate that this bill ought pass, and the ex-
petition Is TO be sent out, for the credit Of the
Nary, he should endeavor to have il put on bet.
ter footing: the officers of the Navy as it was a
present organized, were TO be mere navipators;
tins did not meet his appreciation; he would have
tDem al tile head OF the expedition and the scen-
iic corps should be their mere Agents and instru
inents. To tile Navy should belong the g,ory of
The enterprise, i!any glory TO be acquired in it,
--~o---eS3e-.-r
WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. !
The public are already Informed that Mr. Tho. |
mas Jefferson Randolph, the grandson Of president,
Jefferson aud the executor 10 his will has sipnif-
ed his intention Of publishing selection from the
manuscripts OF the deceased statesman and patriot
ny The mail OF Monday evening we received from
friend at Charlottesville, the GTst half sheet OF
this contemplated work, which, as a specimen oil
typography and paper, is entitled to rank high a.
mong the beautiful and elegant books issued from
the American Press. without doubt the work will |
constitute proud memorial OF the Intellectual |,
power OF Mr.. Jefferson. The Preface Of the Ed |!
itcT u contained entire on the sheet with which
we have been favored, and il is here presented 10
our readers, az furnishing them with better ac- |
count OF the work Which il ushcrs forth TO the |
world than any which has before been published.
Boston Courier.
The opinion universally Entertained Of the ex |
traordinary abilities of Thomas Jefferson. and the
signal evidence given by his country Of profound
sense OF his patriotic services. end Of veueration
for his memory, have induced tie editor, who il
both hs executor and the Iepatee ofb;s