Scope and Contents

Memory is strange; when he thinks of 1838, he remembers a birthday dinner; Mr. Hawks was there, he was just beginning his "Church Review" and writing savagely about Aaron Burr; in 1838 he was the Astronomer for the Exploring Expedition; JOnes was planning to remove Glynn and make him [MFM] the Hydrographer of the Expedition; decided that he did not care who the commander of the Expedition would be, because he [MFM] would get all the praise; refused to lend himself to ousting [?] Glynn; soon Jones gave up and he [MFM] was ordered to Washington; it was very cold, and she thoughtfully sent a woolen shawl for them to wrap Nannie in; Lewis [Wm. Lewis Maury?] was in cahrge of he luggage, and the Green chest got left behind; the Expedition had been transferred from Sec[retary of the Nacy] to Poinsett[?], Sec[retary of] War; Poinsett [?] asked him to provide a list of officers regardess of rnak, who would be qualifed for [the command of] the Expedition; thins now that he expected him to name himself in command of it; did not feel as though he had the right to make distictions among officers, so he gave him a list of all the officers; the command was given to Wilkes [?]; is proud that he kept his integrity; had only intended to tell her that he is interested in their Welsh cousin, but he has now run out of room. 4pp. ALS Including Ts of ALS, 2pp.