Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-01-16


ably forever battle the efforts Of man 10
explore It's interior, or convert il TO any
useful purpose.
After repeating and perseverng efforts
TO approach the coast and effect landing;
Lieutenant Wilkes, his officers and men
having suffered severely from intense cold
and the exposures incidental 10 this hoz.
ardous enterprise, returned TO Sidney the
ll!h Of March, 1910, where he was Join.
ed by The Peacock and Porpoisc, the
former Of which had been in eminent
danger from coming IN contact with an
island of ice. Lieutenant Wilkes speaks
in the highest terms Of the conduct Of the
officers and crews OF the Expedition. AT
the last dates the 9th of April, he was at
the Bay of lslasds, New Zealand whence
ne was shortly to proceed to carry out his
instructions.
The steam frigate Fulton has been
employed during the past season in expe-
rimenting with Paixhan guns and shot,
under the direction OF Captain Perry; and
with view 10 afford as many officers as
possible an opportunity Of becoming &c.
quaiuted with the practice Of gunnery, as
large a number of supernumerarios have
been attached 10 her as she could accom-.
modate. The reports Of Captain Perry
present very interesting results, and
it is contemplated to continue the
experiments for the purpose Of demonstra-
ting the relative advantages of the Paix.
han guns and those in ordinary use, as
well as afiording useful practice to our
naval officers, by attaching them in sue.
cession 10 this vessel.
The surveys on the southern coast o.
the United States, directed by the act o
the Bird Of March, 1887, have been com.
Ipleted under the superintendent of Lieut.
Glynn, and il is expected that the Depart
ment will be enabled to lay before Con
gress, either at or shortly after the com
mencemen, of the session, complete chart!
of all the ports and places which have beer
surveyed.
The brig Consort, under the command
of Lieut.. Powell, ia now occupied in sur
veying the coast from The Bay Of Apalach
icola TO the mouth Of the Mississippi, n,
directed by the act making appropriation
for the naval service, approved July 20
1910.
The sloop OF war, Preble, Commando
Breese, has been employed on the coas
of Newfoundland and Labrador, durinl
the late fishing season, in protecting III,
nights and interests Of American citizen.
engaged in the fisheries. On the termina
ton Of the cruise she returned TO Portland
whence she was ordered TO Boston for ex.
animation previous 10 being sent on for,
eign service.
The brig Dolphin, Lieut. Bell, and The
schooner Grampus, Lieut.. Paine, have
been employed on the coast of Africa, in
the suppression of the slave trade. They
returned at the commencement of the
sickly season, and have since sailed ia
pursuit ofthe same object. The presence
of the vessel on the slave coast, during the
season in which this disgracefnI traffic is
carried on, will in all probability in n
grea, degree arrest its progress, so far as
! it has been prosecuted by the assumption
Of The Amsrican flag, and do much 10
relieve the nation from the unmeriled sig
ma Of participating in a trade equally in
violation of the laws Of the United States
and the policy of their Government
From the report of Lieutenant Bell and
Paine, it appears that the traffic in slaves
is now carried on principally under Por-
tuguese colors, through the medium OF
slave s'ntons az they are denominaed,
established AT different points on the coast
under the protection OF the neighboring
chiefs who furnish the slaves and recei, q
in return goods manufactured in England
expressly for this purpose. Here the
slaves are collected until an opportunity
offers for the slaves to approach The land
under cover Of night and receive them on
board. Both officers are Of opinion that
so long az these stations are permitted to
exist, and this barter carried on n II at
rempis efiectually to arrest the troflic in
slaves will end in administering only pnr-
lial remedies, which will but aggravate
the disease. There can be little doubt
that The number Of slaves transported from
Africa is now greater than il was previous
to tho adoption Of measures for it's preser.
walton aud punishment, which it would
seem have served no other purpose than
to excite the cupidiiy Of unprincipled
by increasing the value of
slaves and thus presenting temptations,
which overpower all6pprehension Of con-
sequences.
During the past year, three small
schooners, the FIirt, the Wave, and the
Otsego, which had been previously pro
a