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Capt. Scammon has been the main stay of the scientific Corps this season and it was only owing to his earnest cooperation that Mr. Kennicott obtained a passable out fit. I believe that I have his entire confidence as much if not more than any other person on board. At Petropavlovok, I was ordered from my state-room in the ward room into one in the Captains cabin as a sort of mark of approval from Col. B. & the captain. I was however not overjoyed at the change, as such things don't add much to ones popularity in the service.

The enemies of the Sci. work are for the time at least discomfited. Dr. Fishers star is on the wane. He is almost universally recognized as a selfish greedy fellow, and I think it quite possible that after this season we shall know him no more. Mr. Wm. B. Hyde, is very low in every bodys estimation and would have been probably dismissed but for Capt. Scammons intercession. The Capt. thought there was some good in him, but I believe he has changed his opinion since. I do not, at least, think that that he will hold any very high position for some time.

It was agitated at this time to make me Surgeon of the fleet, but Capt. Scammon opposed it on the ground that I was not a regular graduate, and I positively refused it, as I do not consider myself competent to fulfil a position