Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-12-09


ant upon long voyages-these and all other
precautions, suggested by experience and |
benevolence, have been provided so LIBERAL |
ly as to give every assurance Of the safety .
and welfare Of the crews.
We understand that this expedition will
probably consume three years in the accom-
plishment of its varied and important
work, and in returning to the Atlantic coast.
In this time it will traverse the waters Of
many of the hitherto unfrcquented regions
bordering upon the Pacific Ocean. On the
one side are the coast of California and Or
egon; on the other, the regions OF KAN
schatka and the islands Of Japan; in the
uorth, to very high degree of latitude, the
scenes of our adventurous whalers; and in
the south, the countless islands ofthe ocean,
so impericcty known to the civilized Ia
tions Of the earth, yet many Of them in
habitcd by human beings whose condition
challenges our pity, and whose character
istics invite the scrutiny Of the learned and
the curious.
One of the most remarkable, and to us
most interesting island groups i'll the world,
is the Sandwich Islands. They form the
natural stopping place for all the vessels
plying between China or Japan and the
coasts of California. They are already the
established resort of our whaloshipS, six
hundred Of which have already taken har-
Dor there within a single year. and not few
Of them, with the meugre facilities now en-
isting, transferring their cargoes at these
ports. In the lapse of bat few years
more they will constitute the commercial de-
pot Of many nations Through them will
pass the tidings from China that will be
thence received as news in London some
twenty or thirty days later.
At present sail vessel can make the voy-
age from Canton to San Francisco, in forty
five days: but it is thought that ocean steam
ers, which must necessarily touch at the
Sandwich Islands. will accomplish it in
sixteen or even fourteen days. The pas
sage from San Francisco TO Panama now
occupies twelve days. When the railroad
shall be completed. the Sky miles transit
across the ISthmus will be made in three
hours; and thence to New York in eight
days. But how long will the Isthmus be
the way of transit from the Pacific 10 the
Atlantic States? Who can tell?
The Western States Of this Union are
neither listless nor idle. They are alive 10
their interests and full of enterprise. They
will soon connect their mercantile cities
with the ports Of the Pacific by railroads
and telegraph wires. BGfore many years
shall pass, not only will tie Canton news
be transmitted by telegraph from San Fran
cisco 10 St. Louis, and thence to the Allan
tic coasts, within sixteen or eighteen days
after the occurrence Of the incidents al
Canton, but chests Of tea and bales Of silks
by the same conveyance across the ocean
will be there opened within few brie
days thereafter; and St. Louis. few year:
ago an unimportant village amid the wild,
Of the west, Will be the city Of commerce
and divergence for the choicest products o
the Celestial Empire. And sixteen days
it is confidently predicted by many, will BE-
| a sufficient lapse of time TO enable the mer
chant OF New York to read the dispatches
, of lis cores pondents at Canton.
In view OF such important probable fa
cilities Of intercourse with China, Japan
and the great intermediate depot OF trade il
= the Sandwich Islands, how important 1t /
that our national vessels should at one
make our flag familiar object in ever
inlet TO the great Pacific Ocean. How nc
cessary is it that enlightened and scientiti
navigators should lead the way through III
D may labyrinths Of the clustering Isles. an
that clear and accurate charts should b
/ made Of every channel to be plowed by tn
c keels Of our ships and ocean steamers?
Y Congress has appropriated for this oNpe
: dition one hundred and twenty five thouSan
d dollars; a large sum to be sure, but no,
$ small when contraSted with the magnltud
= Of the work to be accomplished! Oar Gov
4 ernment derives from its import dutit
e about fifty millions OF dollars per annun
and this under perhaps The lowest practici
), bic tariff of duties. The commerce tn
n thus sustains the Government asks but Ii
S tie in return. For the want Of such il
e formation as it is the present purpose TO o.
>. tain, whale ship of four thousand barre
d ofsperm oil was lost not long ago. the Men
o non, with a freight worth Si25OOUQ, pc