Polynesian., 1844-09-21


veys of the islands, and the scientific corps
In explorations in botony, zoology, geology,
&c. A party was sent in the Flying Fish to
the other Islands. Several harbOrs were
surveyed at the desire of the king. 1t is not
possible to give an idea Of the extent of these
explorations in this synopsis.
After an intimate intercourse, not only
with the missionaries, but the Government
and people, it gave me great pleasure to be
informed on our last short visit, that no cir
cumstance had occurred, either among the
officers or men, to mar the pleasing recollcc-
ton of our intercourse with them"
a chart showing the several tracks of tho
vessels during the whole cruise accompan-
les the pamphlet. The latter appears to
have been prepared in much haste, and very
little attention paid to pcrspicuity in writing,
or method in arrangement Of topics. MI
murous proper names are misspelt. But as
Com. Wilkes is now engaged in preparing
the Narrative Of this Cruise in full, it is un-
necessary to allude further to the errors in
the pamphlet before US. He has also charge
of the charts and the philosophical obscrva-
tons. Wilkes as a scientific officer has &C
CURED a good reputation, but as a writer, if
a Judgment is to be formed from the PAM
phlet before us, and his published despatch
es to the Navy Department, we greatly fear
he will gain no new %laurcls. The Narrative
of this cruise from its variety and extent can
net fail of being interesting by %whomsoever
prepared, but it is much to be regretted that
it had not fallen to the lot Of som one Of the
Expedition whose literary talents had alrea-
dy been tested, and who to the charms of adj
venture, would have added that of a pure,
easy and flowing style. The narrative will
occupy several quarto volumes, richly illus
tratcd with steel plates and wood cuts execu-
ted in the first style Of American artists
The different scientific branches will each
have several volumes devoted to them, in
which all that is new in science will be dcs-
cribed, and cngravings of the objects given.
The whole including the charts will embrace
about twenty volumes the expense of the
publication of which will be not far from
$500 900. a portion of the work will be
ready for publication this year. Fl. Hale,
Esq. has finished his department Of Phil
Iogy-Messrs. Pealc, Rich and Dana arc
busily employed in theirs. DR.. Picker
ing Is appointed Curator ofthc National In
stitute and hasthe general charge of the sci
en'itic portion Of tho work. In Oct. of last
year he sailed for Egypt, for the purpose Of
further prosecuting and verifying his re-
searches in cthnographv, in what he con-
slders the cradle of the human race, IIthio-
pia. His jaunt cannot fail to be interesting
and instructive. As an indefatigablc and
close observer he is not cxccllcd in the Uni
ted States.
Two editions of the Narrative will be prin-
ted--onc expensive, in the best style Of ty-
Biography including the finest illustrations
after the plan Of the voyage of the As,rolobe;
this will be for distribution under favor Of
Government. The other, in a cheaper and
more popular form, 10 come within the ordi-
nary means Of purchasers. But several
years must elapse before the whole is COM
pleted, 1t is to be published under the SUI
perintcndancc Of the library committee of
Congress Of which Judge Tappan. Senator
from Ohio is, Chairman.
We would gladly give further extracts
from the pamphlet in question, but we have
received another and much more perfect
summary. prepared for Silliman's Journal Of
Natural Sciences, by J. d. Dana, Esq. the
A1:n.~I.A A. T--l. I'll = -