The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-02
THE REPUBLIC.
American esographIeal E1ploratlon..


&c., President, which we find reported in the
last received number of the London Nautical
STANDARD, we extract the following notice of
some of our distinguished fellow-c citizens that
will be read with pleasure:
Notwithstanding that our acquaintance
with America is barely of three hundred and
sixty years standing, the boundless specua-
tons of commerce, the successful labors OF IN
telligent travellers, and the truly British ener-
gy of the AnglU-American population, have
made every portion OF the New World better
known in that comparatively short period than
large tracts in the eastern hemisphere. But
we are now proceeding from general to par
ticular knowledge, and the surveys of the Brl-
tish possessions are gradually advancing. Dur
ing the past year several sheets of the labors Of
Captain Bayfield, and his assistants, already
mentioned to you, have been published by the
Admiralty including Buctouche river, Mabou
harbor, Crapaud roads, Campobello island, and
the ninth sheet of the Gulf OF st. Lawrence.
''Nor has the diligence Of the Americans, to
which | alluded in my last address, slackened.
The survey has been steadily carried on, under
organized parties divided into eleven sections,
or rather stations, who push forward the field
work and photography simultaneously; and the
observations for differences of longitude by the
electrical telegraph are advancing under the as
sduous care of Mr.. SEARS WALKER. Nume-
rous sheets have been published within the
year, and the first part OF the Chronometric Expe-
dition, to determine the difference of longitude be-
tween the United States and Great Britain has been
brought to a close; the second series of those OBJ
servations is in hand. The very able and detailed
report of this grand survey, by Professor A. d.
ID dad
library by the kindness of the Hon. e. EVERETT,
and ia in every respect model for works of that
kind. Mr.. EVERETT also had the kindness to send
me the elaborate Chart of the Trade Winds of the
Atlantic Ocean, together with the investigation of
the winds and currents of the sea, by Lieutenant
MAuRY of the United States Navy, and Superin-
tendent OF the National Observatory at Washing
ton. Nor has his courtesy stopped here-for re-
ceived the recent survey of the California and Ore
gon coasts, just completed by Lieutenant McAR-
THUR; 'who, poor fellow, (he adds,) has not lived
to enjoy the credit Of his work, but died the other
day at Panama, while on his return home. This
arduous work undertaken and accomplished
by MACARTHUR under exceedingly trying crcum-
! stances. He arrived in California with a small
vessel during the worst phase of the gold fever.
His crew revolted and deserted; and one occa-
sion pitched an officer into the sea, who, by the
merest miracle, drifted to the shore, and was re-
stored to life. The mutneers pursued, cap
tured and hung; but, while pushing his labors, the
active commander had felt obliged to manacle his
men to their boats
Captain RINeeoLD, of the American navy, 10
now preparing a series of maps of high interest
they comprise the bay and harbor Of San Fran
cisco, with the Farallones, the bay of San Pablo,
and the Strait of Carquias. There has also been
expedition to explore the Rio Grande del Norte;
but it found that though that river has plenty
of water, it is much interrupted by rapids that,
unless some of the rocks are cleared away, il must
| remain unnavigable even for steamers. The ada
cent country is represented as being OF astonish-
ing fertility. Utah, the new Territory, inhabited
by the Mormons, has also been partially examined.
Its physical situation is described very curious,
surrounded on all sides by frightfu rocks covered
with snow saline differences. The vast basin in
which they have placed their city is fertile healthy,
and estimated to be capable of readily supporting
million OF people 1t is about $50 miles in dame
ter and elevated 1000 to 5000 feet above the
Captain srANsBURY, of the Typographical Engi-
neer Corps, had made survey of that singular
sheet of water the Great Salt Lake. and pronounces
that the accounts of it had been exaggerated.
| That it has outlet he says, is now demon
strated beyond doubt, and conyn ced, from
what have seen, that neither the river Utah dor
dan of the Mormons) nor the lake can be of the
slightest utility to commercial navigation
| 'sThe late movements have seriously invaded
| the property and vested rights of the red man,
! who must ere long succumb to his fate Mr. Cat
| lin, the we'll known traveller and historian of the
| North American Indians, and whose recent plan
! for the institution of Museum of Mankind has
met with the appreciation of many influential
members of the Geographical and chronological
Societies. has prepared and laid before the latter
exciting paper on the physical pecuarities and pc
culiar customs Of the Mandans, recently extin-
| guished tribe of the red race. In this valuable
communication ne has laid open the strange reli-
gious ceremonies of that tribe, with all it's connect
! ing links, many of which it was necessary to omit
| in the published accounts. He has also advanced
his own reasons, founded on certain striking re-
semblances in customs and language, for believing
| that the Mandans were admxture of an original
American stock with some colony of w elsh and
this he is disposed to attribute to the expedition
which sailed from North Wales, under the com
mand of Prince Madoc's brother, in the fourteenth
| century
"Much attention has been paid in America for
mpingng upon time and space, as respects the CON-
muncation between the Old and the New Worlds
and especially shortening the time of passage
between New York and London. The most recev-
ed project is founded the facts that railroads
three times as expeditions as steamers; consequent
| y, instead of embarking at New York, it is pro.
posed that passengers should proceed by land as
far eastward as a railroad can be carried-that is
to the utmost verge of Nova Scotia and there en-
bark. They then should make the best of their
way to Galway Bay, and take the railway for Dub
lin. Now, after what has been achieved in inter
national communication of late, we may reasona-
bly, hope for further Improvements. voyage to
the East Indies and back in former times occupied
a couple Of years. or more; ordinary merchantmen
can manage the same in nine months. In
| 1850, time when the trade winds pretty well
understood, three fine Indiamen--the Leicester
Arson, and Shaftesbury-s from the Downs
on the 9th Of April, and arrived at Bombay in Sep
TENDER in 1850 the same voyage is averaged &c
occupy rs days, and news is carried by the over
land mail in less than month. This is owing L
proper application OF science and experience; anc
cannot but augur that Lieut.. MAURYs inquiries
as shown in the charts mentioned-wil still fur