Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-09
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
CAPTAIN FREMoNTs REPORT.

dred pages, containing the "Rep0n OF the ETpi0,
ing Expedition TO the Rocky Mountains IN III
year 1912, and TO Oregon and North California
IN The gears lS43-'44, by Brepst Captain ].
FREMONT, Of the Typographical Engineers,
printed by order Of the Senate Of the Unite,
States.
If" knoW fhysel~' be regarded as good maxim
in moral and intellectual philosophy, then, by
parity of reason, " kaow thy own country" is al
equally good one in geographical sense. In this
point OF view we regard the report of Captain
FREMoNT's Exploring Expedition to the Rocky
Mountains, to Oregon, and to North California, as
OF much more value to us as American citizens
than the more bulky and snowy narratives Of ex.
poring expeditions even to the " ends Of the EARTH
We have no wish to dcpreciate the latter. As ct
zens of the world, and rejoicing in the spread o.
information and the increase Of knowledge, we hal
the hardy Of toll and travel, and the adventur
Gus navigator of the painless Deep as benefactors
of their Species let them bring us information from
whatever shore, or concerning whatever branch Of
the widespread human family they may. But in
the circle of social affections and interests our own
country has higher claims upon us than any other
and il is therefore that feel as we have stated
deeper interest in the publication before u.s.
Captain FREMONT has already made two expedi-
tons to the western portion of our continent.
"The first terminated at the Rocky Mountains, and
at the two points of greatest interest in that ridge,
namely, the South Pass and Fremonts Peak the
former being the lowest depression of the noun
tains, through which the road to Oregon now
passes and the latter the highest elevation from
the base of which four great rivers take their rise
and flow in opposite directions towards the rising
and the setting sun. The second expedition, after
approaching the mountains by different route,
connects with the first expedition at the South
Pass, and thence finds the great theatre of its la
bors West of the Rocky Mountains and between
the Oregon river and North California. The third
expedition now commencing, will be directed to
that section of the Rocky Mountains which gives
rise to the Arkansas, the Rio Grande del Norte
and the Rio Colorado of California, and will ex-
tend west and southwest of that section SO as to
examine the country towards the Pacific ocean,
ascertain the lines of communication between the
mountains and the in that latitude, and csm-
plete the examination of the Great Salt Lake and
of the interesting region which embosoms it,
Respecting the large and valuable map which ac-
companies this report Captain FREMONT says !:
This map may have a meager and skeleton APP
pearance to the general eye, but is expected to be
more valuable to science on that account, being
wholly founded upon positive data and actual OBJ
servations in the field. About ten thousand miles
of actual travelling and traversing in the wilder
ness which lies between the frontiers of Missouri
and the shores of the Pacific, almost every camp
ing station being the scene of astronomical or
barometrical observations, furnish the materials
out of which this map has been constructed No
thing supposititous has been admitted upon it,
The profile maps g showing the elevations, or the
rise and fall of the country from the Mississippi
TO the Pacific, are perhaps the most extended
work of the kind ever constructed exhibiting
" in all about four thousand miles Of profile map
,rJ L.
lions, with views sketched and facts noted in the
field"
Captain FREMONT, in the following extract from
the preface TO his report, speaks with much mo-
'desty of his contributions Psychological and botan-
cal science; but we have to believe that not
only these, but also the astronomical observations
and the sketches of the typographical features of
the country, and the baromerical and meteorologi-
cal observations, are regarded as very valuable by
men well versed in the respective sciences, and
most competent to Judge:
In the departments of geological and botanical science
have not ventured to advance any opinions my own i'm
perfect knowledge of those branches but have submitted all
my specimens the enlightened judgment of Dr. Torey Of
New Jersey and Dr. Hall, Of New York, who have kindly
classified and arranged all that able submit to them
The botanical observations Of Dr. Toey will be furnished in
full hereafter, theie being time complete them now
The remarks Of Dr. Hall, the geological specimens fur
nished TO him. will be found in appendix the report
and his archaeological skill amindebted for the Discovery
OF ooltc formation In the region Of the Rocky Noun
tans which further examination may prove assnae the
geology Of the that Of the old world in a rare pari
GUAR which had before been discovered in either Of the
Americas. Unhappily, much of what had collected
lost by accidents Of serious import ourselves as well
animals and collections In the gorges and ridges
Of the Sierra Nevada, Of the Alta California lost fourteen
horses and mules falling from rocks precpces into chasm
rivers bottomess and them, and of them load
ed with bales Of plants collected line of two thousand
miles Of travel and when almost home, camp the
banks Of the Kansas deuged by the great food which,
lower down. spread terror and desoaon the BORDERS Of
the Missouri and Mississippi and by which great damage
done to remaining peshable specimens all and
rated with water and which had time dry Still,
what saeed will be respectable contribution botan-
cal science, thanks to the skill and of DR. Torey and
both IN geology and botany the maps will be of great value
the profile view showing the elevations which the spec
mems were found and the geographical map showing the To-
calties from which they come.
1.-THE astronomical observations taken with good isru.
nents have been tested, where they important by
three-fold computation by Professor Walker Of Phi
ladepha whose astronomical reputation 80 great another
by Mr. Joseph e. Hubbard promising young mathematician
from Connecticut the third y myself so that the correct
In sketchng the typographical features Of the country,
branch OF science in which he had been professionally edu
Gated Mr. Charles Preuss had been my in both ex
petitions and TO his extraordinary Skill supported by the
pleasure ne ie In the execution Of his duties indebted
ir he continuous typographical sketches Of the regions
through which passed. and which were never interrupted
oy any extremity OF fatigue privation
ne oatometricai and meteorological observations were
carefully made with good Instruments and admit Of no mate
nal error beyond the minute deviaons nseparabe from such
operations
The third expedition now commencing ;s pnae,,.Ier
with more ample means than the two former and helms
directed 10 region so interesting ITSELF and 30 new Il
science can hsrdy iai TO requte the enterprise which ex