The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-13

II could not leave our coast until further ap-
preparations should be made.
This afforded an opportunity Of sending TO
Europe for books and instruments for the SCI
enli6c corps TO be attached TO the squadron
and rendered il proper to increase the propos-
ed number for such corps, so as to bear just
proportion to the scale Of the expedition.
Lieutenant Wilkes, of the navy, was sent
TO Europe, with ample funds, 10 procure the
necessary books andinstruments, and embark
ed at New York on the 9Th OF August, 1896.
As at this time il was necessary to lit out Il
squadron for the Pacific, another for the coast
OF Brazil, and 10 add TO our squadron in the
West Indies, il was evident that great difficult
ty would take place in recruiting seamen for
the exploring expedition. This difficulty was
fully understood and stated; but Commodore
Jones gave assurances that, should he be au-
thorized to recruit seamen for this particular
service, under his own superintendent, and
with the aid of such officers as he should de-
slgnate, he would have sufficient number of
seamen recruited before the ships OF the
squadron could be prepared.
This proposition was assented to, although
this mode of recruiting was considered ex-
tremely detrimental TO the service This nea-
sure, as was apprehended, made it necessary
TO adopt the same mode of recruiting for the
Brazilian and Pacific squadrons, all interfer-
ing with each other; and the consequence
was, that on the lst of February last, no more
than two hundred and fory-eight seamen, or
binary seamen, and boys, had been recruited
for the expedition--nore than enough, it is
true, for the expedition intended by Congress,
but not half enough for the squadron of Com
modore Jones, which required crews, officers
included, amounting to six hundred and three
men, exclusive Of the scientific corps.
Atthe different navy yards every effort was
made TO complete, agreeably to the suggestions
aud instructions of Commodore Jones, the
vessels of this squadron, to w.t. the frigate
Macedonian, the store-ship Relief, Of 400
tons, the bargues Pioneer and Consort, of230
tons each, and the schooner Pilot, of | a tons.
The Relief was launched on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1896; the Pioneer on the 26th, and
the Consort on the 29th of October the Pilot
about the same time, and the frigate Macedo-
man on the LIST Of November. The barques
and schooner, with the store-ship, were equip
ped and sent round to Norfolk, from which
harbor they might sail at any season of the
year.
Before this time, difficulty had occurred
as to the appointment of two officers to the
command Of two Of the smallervessels, which,
although it occasioned no delay in the sailing
Of the squadron, had an unfavorable effect up
on the preparations for the expedition.
twas my wish to employ such officers of
the navy as were distinguished for science, in
this expedition, as far as this could convent
emily be done; and to employ hut smallnum
Der Of scientific gentlemen not belonging 10
the navy Upon such an arrangement be-
ieyed the ultimate success Of the expedition
was to depend, and have not changed that OPT
Mon.
Lieutenant Slidell, distinguished for his
scientific attainments and elegant literature,
seemed peculiarly well qualified to take a
place in the expedition |, therefore, proposed
to order him to the command of one of the
smaller vessels of the squadron, and TO charge
him with the duty of writing history of
the voyage.
TO this Commodore Jones, Alternating time
for inquiry and consideration, objected in
written communication. This received and
considered for the rule had adopted as TO
this expedition was, not only to permit Com
modore Jones to select his officers, such as
ted to select, but, of those to be selected by
this Department, not to appoint any against
whom he might have well-founded objections;
and such were the instructions to me fromthe
President.
The objections to Lieutenant Slidell APP
peared to me not only unfounded, but unjust to
the professional character and standing of that
officer As he requested copy of those OBJ
iections, which were made matter of record
in this Department, it was, with the assent OF
Commodore Jones, communicated to him J;
and he was left to answer the allegations
which had been made against him.
proposed to order Lieutenant Wilkes to
the command of the schooner, from belief
that his knowledge in mathematics and astro-
nomy would be of great service to the expedi-
ton with view TO which, he had been Sc
lected to go TO Europe for instruments and
books, as before stated. To him, also, Com
modorc Jones objected in a written commune
cation. His objections appeared to me not to
be well founded. |, however, did not order
either of these officers, but reserved the sub
ect for the consideration of the President, who
was then absent from the seat of Government.
On his return, it was laid before him. and he
decided in favor of ordering those officers, as
had proposed. As, however, the correspond
ence between Lieutenant Sldell and Com
modore Jones was such as to leave no hope
that there could be any harmony of action be-
tween them which might be attended with con-
sequences unfavorable to the success Of the
expedition and as the objections made
against Lieutenant Wilkes, who had not yet
returned from Europe, were such as to leave
no doubt in my mind that he would consider
it an act of injustice, under the circumstances
of the case, to be ordered in this service, |