The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-03
For the Union.
Ross and wilkes.

Captain Ross, in his Narrative of the British Antarctic
Expedition has thought proper to Introduce the subject
OF the United States Exploring Expedn fnq ths aae
fore think my duty TO sci him and the public right upon
the subject In page l16, vol. /. he says
That the commanders Of zach Of these great nstena
he very place Tor penetrating TO the southwark or me eN
ploaton OF which they Were well aware at the time that
ing and thereby foTestaing purposes, dd certainly
greatly surprise should have expected their national
pride would have caused them rather have chosen any
other path in the wide field before them, dian one thus
pointed out, if higher consideration had power TO pre-
'They had however the unquestionable right select
any point they thought proper at which to direct their Ell
which their conduct mig ht have placed me. Fortunately,
in my instructions, much had been left to my Judgment
feeling that England had ever led the way of discovery
the southern well in the northern regions, considered
would have been inconsistent with the pre-eninenee she
has maintained, if to follow IN the footsteps
OF the expedition of any other nation
Now sir, without adverng to the bad taste, as well
egosn OF the above extract, and the broad assertions
relative to the want OF national PRIDE IN the commanders
OF the French and American expeditions II VIII only be
necessary to point to dates to show the glazing decepuon
attempted By Captain Ross on his countrymen.
On the first page OF his introduction are the following
lines:
"A the eighth meeting of the British Association for the
advancement OF Science held at Newcastle, IN August,
1885, the physical section of that body
directed to the number and importance OF desderata IN hat
great practical branch of science called terrestrial magnet
ism, by Lieut. Colonel Sabine, of the royal artillery; and
committee appointed consisting OF Sir John Hersche
Mr. Peacock CHOW Dean of EIy) and Professor Lloyd Of
Trinity College, Dublin, represent TO Her Mqesys gov
citation and as these resolutions exhibit general
line of Objects sought to be attained they inserted here
pointing out clearly the causes IN which the expedition
TO the Antarctic regions origbnaed
This meeting took place ON the goth OF August 1888.
The instructions to me- as commander OF the expedition,
are dated Navy Department. 18th August, 1893; and the
paragraph relating to the exploration south is as fol-
lows:
"These objects will, it is presumed, occupy you until
the last Of October and when attained as tar as may be
posble you will proceed the port oil Sydney where sup
plies may be obtained. From thence you VIII make a
south of Van Demans Land, and far west as 49, east,
or to Enderbys Land making your rendezvous as you re-
now usalv denomiuated and where you will probably
rive by the latter end OF March, 1870"
Can more decided contradiction of the truth OF Capt
Rosss assertions be given than the above and tins was
all before him when he wrote the paragraphs The dates
prove conclusvey that my instructions were Issued from
Navy Department nine days before the body met VINO
first took any steps towards the Investigations on magnet
ISM out of which the English Antarctic Expedition had Its
BIRTH and when it not dreamed oil Captain Ross re-
ceived his appointment to it nine months after these dates
Has Capt Rosss national PRIDE induced MN 10 make
this unwarrantable and gratuitous statement
The space in your columns will not permit me 10 make
than another reference at the present me On page
294, vol. 1, is the following, VIZ:
son my arrival at Sydney was told by Mr. McLeay, the
Mceay that meeting Lieutenant Wilkes after his
discovery He seemed doubt their statement; but the
day they called upon him. and placed in his hands No
629 OF the Atheneunl, published in November 1882 and
pointed him the account there given OF the discoyey
on reading which in their presence, he exclaimed, '"e"
all orr labor has been in rain"
With the elder Mr. McLeay had some acquaintance
on my first visit to Sydney; but him on my
second visit after returned from the Antarctic cruise
become acquainted WITH nor did ever meet him, to my
knowledge, in society," neither did receive visit from
either Of these gentlemen To the elder Mr.. McLeay,
before my departure for the southern cruise paid visit
at Elizabeth Bay, five six miles from Sydney to thank
him for some assistance he had rendered naturasts
received no number or numbers of the Aheneum from
either of these gentlemen any else nor did ever
read the paragraph alluded to- until read in Captain
Rosss book lew days since, hold any conversation
with either of them any other persons Sydney rea
tive to our own discoveries that of others, except our
consul, Mr. Williams, and Captain Briscoe; The latter
informed of Beanys discovery and marked the place
on my chart where he supposed it was; over which
wrote "Engish discoveries" tracing copy OF this was
the sent to Captain Ross That never uttered the
words imputed to me, every one who knows me Will
readily believes and cannot out pronounce the whoe as
far as regards myself, as entirely untrue ,,r,r
CHARLES WILKES.