Polynesian., 1851-05-31
Maui, May, 1851.

charming islands
AGRICOLUS.
Maui, May, 1851.
kB What is doing to extend commercial
relations with the eastern empires
MEMORIAL OF AARON HAIGHr PALMER, OF NEW
YORK.
To the Honorable the House of Represen-
tatives 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 comprehensive view of the present
state, productive resources, manufactures,
trade, and commerce of Japan, and the
other independent maritime nations of the
far East.
That the substance of these papers was
drawn, by him, from the latest and most au-
thentc original sources, Oriental, European,
and American, including the archives of the
Department of State.
That they submit plan for opening and
extending American diplomatic relations,
consular establishments, and commercial in
tercourse with all those countries, and parti-
culariy with Japan.
That they indicate the best mode of estab-
fishing steam communication between Cali
fornia, Japan, China, Chin India, the Indian
Archipelago, British India, Polynesia, and
Australasia, ard point out the existence of
coal, and the most suitable ports for coaliEg
stations, in those regions.
That they afford variety Of the most re-
cent geographical, political, commercial and
photographed information respecting those
countries, not to be found in any other work
of the kind cxtant.
That they contain brief notices of their
languages, and lists of the best grammars
and dictionaries of the Arabic, Persic, Bur-
man. Chinese, Cochin-C Chinese, Siamese,
Malay, Japanese, sc.
That they are enriched with tables of cur
rencies, weights, and measures of the princi-
pal Oriental nations, and their commercial
regulations; copies OF United States treaties
with China, Siam, Muscat, and 500 Loo,
together with synopsis of the latest BVtish
treaties with the Arab states, with Persia,
Burmah, Siam, Acheen, and Borneo Proper.
That they are illustrated with a chart, on
which are laid down the principal trading
ports of Eastern Africa, and the adjacent
islands; of Abyssinia; the Peninsula Of Ara
bia; Continental Asia; the Empire of Japan,
and its dependencies; the Indian Archipe-
lago; Polynesia, Australasia; &c., together
with Lieutenant Maury's projected routes of
steam communication on the Pacific, sc.
And your memorials: further represents
That these papers, which bears the title Of
&c Japan, Sc, opened, or the extension of
American Commerce in the far East, are
the result of many years laboriOus research.
both at home and abroad, involving large
sacrifice of time and expenditure.
That they contain mass of useful and
reliable information, of special value for In
formation, of special value for intelligent
legislation and action by Government, in our
present and future relations with the East !;
and also of great interest and Importance to
our commerce. r.- .ie. f.. .1,rla at.
That the character of the work, and the
peculiar nature of its contents, preclude its
publication, with any hope of profit to the
author, except it be done under the immedi-
ate auspices and liberal patronage Of our
Government.
And your memorialist further represents,
that, at various times, within the last five
years, and at the special invitation of Govern
ment, he contributed largely to the extension
of American commerce in the East, by fur
nishng four valuable documents on the sub
iect. se.h r,euaa ..
That two of them, in addition to their i'm
portant commercial statistics, contained
variety of interesting geographical and by
biographical information, respecting the J''-
pan Seas, the islands and coasts of Northern
Asia, Behring's Straits and the Arctic Ocean,
which have enabled our enterprising whalers
to open up new and unprccedentedly pro-
fitable whale fishery, in those seas, during
the past season. aya 3
That between 1000 and 5000 copies Of one
of these documents were published by your
memorialist, 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