Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11

lis Der Ftment the selection Of the vessels which NAV
for the prosecution Of this enterprise
W eqqnment and distribution Of the force il may
"a hSyganzaon Of every matter Of detail connected
Nth it limited only by the amount Of the appropriation
fhass Thought should best accomplish the object pro-
posed and crafty the expectation of the country by Civ
ing to the expedition the benefit of such naval resources
as the Department could command rather than conne
to such limited supply would have resulted from either
building or purchasing vessels and providing for the other
details Of this service out of the fund entrusted to the
partment. With this fund SO applied the Department
would have been constrained organize the expedition
upon scale which conceive be altogether inadequate
70 the nature OF the labor required and which, indeed
would have been almost certain To end in the failure to
accomplish such results Congress had contemplate
Looking to the amount which it would have been nec
sary to reserve in order to provide for the special comm
geneies q such an expedition have been imac-
ucable to PROCURE by the application Of the repnng
portion OF the appropriation than one steiner Of
an inferior class and perhaps two small briggs cons
tute the force TO be used in the undertaking is doubt
lu II even this equipment could have been obtained by
such appropriation Of the fund The ABSOLUTE neces
siy Of altering strengthening and ARRANGING any vessel
which might be purchased to adaptt to the chara
ter Of the service required and give reopabe assurance
OF safety and success would have dSn so largely upon
the appropriation as to reduce the o.tht to limit quite
incompatible with the object expeeed to be attained
This cruise Of exploration and urvey destined to equal
employ ment in the tropics and e arctic regions and
qured to traverse the broad Of the Pacific amongst
dangerous and unknown shs and in search Of islands
and rocks misplaced upon charts and therefore the
more perilous to the navigator will find enough and
than enough Of labor tooccupy during the next three
years Its tosome ties exacting ceaseless vigilance
and all the skill Of seymanshp will be inevitably enhanc-
ed by the disease pcdent varying climates and expo
sure to the peculiar casualties of boat navigation and
tests with the savage islanders of the is destined
to explore / have therefore deemed it indispensable
that at least large vessel should be always at hand to
afford change Of quarters to those who may be disabled
dnd to supply reefs Of fresh to take the place Of
those who may be broken down by sickness accident
1t is impossible to maintain the health of the crews Of the
small vessels in long service without the comforts
which such change may afford These surveys also
quire extra supply Of men beyond the usual compile
men destined to cruising ships there being
occasion for detachment boats conduct the
ton Of measuring and determining the position and bear
ings of the shoals and islands which it is the purpose of
the enterprise to ascertain
In consideration of all these conditions and many others
Of kindred nature, have determined give to this
little squadron every facility which the at my
have enabled me to supply have according
put the Yncennes of our best sloops
owar, in the lead of the expedition. have added to
this the propeller John Hancock which, being found to
have engine of the strongest construction needed only
alterations in her size and frame and the addition Of
new boilers to make her every respect most efficient
contribution to the force required She has with this
view, been placed in the hands of the naval constructor
who is now assiduousy at work, and am happy to
port with all desirable success in fitting her out with
every accommodation which her future operations may
demand Besides these two vessels the brig Porpoise
has been detailed for the expedition and put in condition
boat adapted to speedy navigation and shallow waters
will be added to the squadron. These vessels fully
ned and equipped and furnished with all the necessaes
appropriate to the hazardous nature Of their cruise
stitute the material elements of the expedition.
To promote the scientific objects contemplated by the
have supplied the squadron with
tronomer and photographer of known ability and
pishment and also with naturalist and botanist, who
are charged with the duty of collecting and preserving
specimens Of such natural productions as may interest
ing to science and commerce Ea e4sfr
The squadron is placed under the command of an off,
Ger already distinguished by his participation in for
mer Exploring Expedition, and well known for the vaua
BILE contributions he has made to the photographed
survey of our western coasts-C Commander Ringgold,
whose professional accomplishment and devotion to the
service eminenty qualify him for the duty committed to
him. He will be able hope to take his departure in
few weeks and will sail directly to the Pacific, doubling
Cape Horn and proceeding by the Sandwich Islands to
Behring's Straits where he may be expected to arrive
at the opening of the for operations in that
ter 1t designed to employ the expedition during each
year in the reconnaissance of these high attudes from
June until October this being the only in which
the surveys may be prosecuted in those regions The
portions of each year will be devoted to the
of survey and exploration in the lower at
tudes along the coast of Japan the China Seas and the
routes OF navigation between ports the Pacific and
the East Indies Particular attention will be given to
the survey OF the and coasts through and along
which our whaling ships pursue their perilous trade
looking carefully to the coast Of Japan, the Kurile
Islands, the Of Okhotsk and the UNEMPLOYED shores of
Northern Asia
The commander of the expedition is made fully aware
OF the necessity and value of accurate survey of the
various lines OF navigation between California and China
and viii bestow upon this undertaking attention
with its Importance He is directed make
frequent reports of his work. in order that no time may
be lost in communicating to the country the results
gether with descriptive charts of his survey for the
benefit of commerce and navigation These will be duly
published often they are received by the Depart
ment.
Being persuaded that this Department cannot better
contribute to the fulfment Of the high expectations
which the country has entertained the value of
the navy, nor perform more acceptable duty to the
navy ITSELF than by mpartng to this Of the national
power the highest spirit Of enterprise, well the
greatest efficiency Of action, have sought every oppor
unity to put in requison for useful service the various
talent Skill and ambition of honorable adventure which
equally distinguish and embesh the professional char
scer of the officers under the control Of the Department
Constant employment Of ships and in the promotion
81 valuable public interests whether in the defence Of
the honor of our flag, in the exploration of the field
Of discovery and the opening of channels Of trade
Or in the enlargng Of the boundaries of science,
convinced will be recognised both by the Government and
the people as the true and proper vocation of the navy
and as the means best calculated and strengthen
that prompt and gallant devotion to duty which is
entia to the character Of accomplished officers and so
to the effectiveness Of the naval organi-
zation.
Acting in conformity with this opinion have avaled
myself OF events that favored the object to set foot
TWO other expeditions which may be classed with those
which have just presented to your notice, and from
which have every to hope much good is to be
derived hereafter My attention has been invited by the
Society Of Pennsylvania to the necessity Of
researches into the character of the
continent Of Africa and especially that portion Of il "
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