Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-12-28
rNrI.nrlNn rNcrnirioN.

III
I, added that the u. ;. ,l"op Of war Peacock
~lI be .us,.iaird zoe the frlx,ts M.e.doni.n
and that oni, o"t sma'l vessel " 81 acconp,
ny her ou The expedition. The Courier ,ub
lrshes the fOliosirs letter from Com law,
Co Captain ARNsrA0>e, taking leave OF IN,
Expedition Bat .hnrrieaa.
.S1'. Prospect HM IirSin:s.)
Decsmher {, 1887.
To IIat, AKA,rRoso. k,l
Co"HIais' u The S Filxa,s Macedonian.
My Dear Sir.-The state of my
heath at the tine ofmy departure from
New York, prevented me from per>on. .
ally taking leave to the officers aud
men comprising the ere ws of the seve.
raj vessels Of III, South Sea Suryeyin,
and Exploring Expedition.
The seemingly unceremon;ous haul.
ing down of the insignia Of NV com.
mand, which | am informed took pl,cs
ct meridian on the 9TH inst. apprised
YOU OF an event. ~h,ch was no, my
sell informed OF tall the receipt. a few
moments since, III a communication
from The Hon. Secretary Of the Navy
bearing date Washington. December
the 9th.
The ties which connected me with
those under my late command be,p,
thus suddenly severed, both as regards
time and circumstances leaves me no
opportunity vi officially addressing
them, but | should DO violence 10 INV
own feelings, and injustice to those
VINO nave won my esteem and highest
appreciation 10y their Jealous and deyu.
ted services, u should part from them
~ silence aud without attempting at
tefs' 10 express some Of those emotions
which such an event Is calculated TO
inspire.
We all embarked, my dear sir. in
noble undertaking one worthy of the
Republic, and in the successful terni.
nation of which we might have in.
hulsed the surest hopes of winning re-.
Pn'alion for ourselves, and inperisha.
Die honor for our country. The Con.
gross OF the uniou. responsive to the
VIII oi their constituents, with a Iibe.
TAii;y which has received the applause
1' Tie "orId, lon5 lace appropriated
The means ~ carry INTO effect our frs,
great national enieIpri'e, upon a scale
commensurate wItG the great object,
10 De attained; but after DELAYS the
most unprecedented, embarrassment,
we most 'eXaIiou,, aud difficulties
hitherto unknown ~ any equipment.
and IN any outfit, the expedition still
myers IN the waters Of The United
STATES and YOU are still left IN doubt
ana uncertainty, a. ~ II as To the time
OF your departure. a, to the final plan
% your voyage. and Tia. duration and
extent OF your operations.
u Is not meet that should sneak m
detail Of the difficulties and embarrsss.
men'' which have been thrown in my
way ~ almost every matter connected
WIN ny command. ur ,ac causes from
winch those dil,iculiir, and cmb,-r,sS.
"e"'' sPnng much les al the cir.
SHn'iInces under which I.wa, ron.
',ra'nrd 10 abandon the ,y,cJ,tion-
When thee shall be- Aaosn. a. one
ia, they viii be. a. ,erSuadcd il
VIII be- found that hIF, not ben,
InoiS Jealous oi my own honor and pro.
Ie"honll reputation than regardfil of
The nights, interests aud rar,. of tho.e
over whom was placed a.. Conman.
der.in Chief
| leave tho expedition with spirits
Neaned out by continued d,appoint.
Tnent'' and with my beaI,, .criously
impaired BY the incessant and eEiraof.
dlnary duties which have been limos.
co upon ne-but conscious Of The pu.
h'y OF my own motives and the intey.
my OF my conduct, I shall hive mo-
h'ng TO regret. save the prostraiIon o(
the proud hopes which inspired me in
the undertaking, and the parting w,,L
those who have stuck to the cause thro'
good report and through evil reyod-
whom neither the hope Of favor could
'educe, nor the accumulation OF din.
cult'es could dive from the expedition.
and upon whose zeal aud devotion Ia
Their duty, ] might al all tines with
such confidence have relied.
lie who shall be-. or who {, alreaNv
named as my successor Co carry into
eheet The WISHES and intentions Of the
constituted authorities. may be more
fortunate ~ the esd and counten.nce
'NN' w ilb'N AluhE ~ aMfAnTla
". Dot be cannot he attended on b,,
voyage with hands more ready or
hearts more willing than had the ho-
h'r % eOmmlnd.
"a, my dear SIR. Who have been -
'','y acquainted With Ill my view, IN
reference 20 Ihe expedition. who knew
Whist were my early hopes. and have
sen how NY fondesl anticipllions have
zen disappointed. Will appreciate nv
~ ''Ve' N writing this letter. and Will
'l~e '"ch means 20 carry IT. content,
70 me officers Of NY late command A.
'ha'i be right and proper; accepiin, for
yourself the assurances Of nv lasting
esteem, and expressing 10 them in ms
simple farewell my ancere,t VIII.
sure fame. 80
N'rJ '0'ly 'ai f.'tLfally yoa,s.
TAOS. ~ CArEsuY JONES