The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-20
MEMORIAL OF AARON lIAIGHT PALMER, on
NEW YORK.
february 3, 1851

To The honorable the House of Representatives. of the
United States Of america in Congress assembled:
Your memorialist respectfully represents
That, at the request of the late Secretary OF
State, he prepared series of papers giving CON-
prehensive view OF the present state, productive
resources manufactures, trade and commerce. Of
Japan, and the other independent maritime
tions Of the far East.
That the substance of these papers were drawn
by him from the latest and most authentic origi-
nal sources, Oriental, European and American,
including the archives of the Department of
State.
That they submit plan for opening and ex-
tending American diplomatic relations, consular
establishments, and commercial intercourse with
all those countries, and particularly with Japan.
That they indicate the best mode Of establish
Ing steam communication between California, ia
pan China Chin-India, the Indian Archipelago,
British India, Polynesia, and Austral Asia, and
point out the existence Of coal, and the most suit
able ports for coaling stations in those regions
That they afford q variety Of the most recent
geographical political commercial, and hydro
graphical information respecting those countries,
not TO be found in any other work Of the kind
extant.
That they contain brief notices Of their Ian
guages and lists of the best grammars and die
tionaries of the Arabic, Persian, Burmau, Chi
nese, Cochin-Chinese, Siamese, Malay, Japan
csc &c
That they are enriched with tables of curren
cies, weights, and measures of the principal ORR
entail nations, and their commercial regulations /;
copies of United States treaties with China, ST.
am, Muscat, and 500 Loo together with synopses
Of the latest British treaties with the Arab States,
with Persia, Burmah, Siam, Acheen, and Borneo
Proper
That they are Illustrated with n chart, on which
are laid down the principal riding pors of + ,st-
ern Africa, and the adj cent isl ,nds of Abys-
sina. the Peninsula of Arabia, Continental Asia
the Empire Of J,pau and it's dependencies the
Indian ARCHIPELAGO, Polynesia Austral Asia,
sc, toge her with Lieutenant Marry projected
routes Of stem commune l'ion on the Pacific &c
And your memorialist further represents--
That these apers, which hear the title of " IA
PAN, &c, OPENED OR TUE EXTENSION or AMERICAN
CoMMERcE IN THE FAR EAsrn are the result Of
many years l,borious re-elrch both at home and
abroad, involving large sacrifice of time and ex-
penditure
That they contain mass of useful and reliable
information, of special value for intelligent legis.
lation and action by Government in our present
and future relations with the East; and also of
great interest and Importance to our commerce
That the character Of the work, and the pecu-
liar nature of its contents preclude its publication
with any hope of profit to the author except II be
done under the immediate auspices and liberal
patronage of our Government
Aud your memoralst further represeuts-
That at various times within the last q vc years,
and at the special invitation of Government, he
contributed largely to the extension of American
commerce in the East, by furnishing four valua-
bic documents on the subject.
That two Of them, in addition to their import
ant commercial statistics, contained variety OF
interesting geographical and Autographed in
formation, respecting the Japan seas, the islands
and coasts Of Northeastern Asia, Behring's Strait,
and the Arctic ocean, which have enabled our en-
terprising whalers to open q new and unprece-
de,tedly profitable whale fishery in those seas
during the past season.
That between two and three thousand copies of
one Of these documents were published by your
memoralst, at his own expense; that two Of them
were printed by order Of Congress, and one by
the Department Of State and that the demand for
them Was 80 great as to induce him to print ex-
ira copies for distribution, at his own charge
That one Of these documents, printed by order
of the Senate, was illustrated by two large mans.
which he prepared with great labor, at the spe-
cial request Of the late Mr. Calhoun and several
other Senators that, owing TO undue delays on
the part Of the photographers and public printers
he WAS compeliedto remain at the seat Of Govern
ment for several months, TO superntend the cor
rect execution of these maps, and to revise the
proof sheets of said documents.
That they have been republished by several
societies and leading periodicals in England and
her Oriental possessions and translated into sew
eral European languages, and that they have been
treated by the scientific and commercial world in
the most favorable light and that for all these
abors and sacrifices, he has never received any re-
Enumeration from any quarter whatever.
And your memorislist further represents
That, if your honorable body will assist him,
by subscription, on its part, to twenty thousand
copies Of this work, he will publish it without de-
lay, in one large octave volume of five hundred to
six hundred pages, printed on fine paper, with long
primer type loaded, accompanied with large
chart and deliver IL, neatly bound in muslin, at
two dollars per copy.
In consideration Of the premises, your memo
rialist respectfully prays that your honorable
body will direct your Clerk to purchase from him
the aforesaid number Of copies Of this work, ct