The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-19
The Great Commercial Movements
of the Day.
YHE JAPAN AVID EXPLORING EXPEDITIONS
THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEPARTURE
OF THE EXPEDITIONS,
DC, &c., &c.
An Expedition 20 the Pacific.

which II should be full
Though not official We have been At some psns
therefore TO obtain all the material points embraced In
the plans and objects Of the expedition
About the hrst of January sXt an eSpeotioh WIN ue
part from port Of Norfolk The performance OF i'm
porant and arduous duties in the far on seas and Islands
Of the Pacific oceap objects will be to survey
China and California and The North Pacific ocean in the
r,eon of BehIipgs straits, 1t may probably also ascend
the Sea Of TGrtsTy make examinations needed
for the advantageous prosecuon Of commercial enter.
prises in those comparatively unknown waters.
In The north however IL will doubt find very wide
Held for Its operations in making such investigations
are desirable for the furtherance of our important in
terests in the whale fisheries
The Sandwich Islands will for time be the principal
rendezvous Of the vessels OF this expeditions but is not
unlikely that Its arrival AZ Japan viii be so timed as 20
make 1t available In facilitating the efforts OF Comm
Perry whore fleet will tsrry considerable time in the
vicinity Of those Islands.
This expedition will consist offrst the sloop Of war
vineepnes Commander Cadwaladar Ringgod with Lieut..
A. Budd and ether officers not yet designated and ITO
men This sloop Is now at New York Second the
steam propeller John Hancock, Lieut. John Rodgers
commanding with sixty men. She is now undergoing
thorough repairs at Boston Third the brig Porpoise
Lieut. Il. Davis commanding with sixty men. She is
ct New York. Fourth, tender, TO be called the
Pilot with about twenty men. We believe her commander
h not yet chosen.
TIL. passed midsbipmen midskipmen and many other
Cheers are not yet designated
The most eminent medical skil in the service win be
detailed ard scientific in every department will be
selected with reference TO their high reputa ion and emf
neDt suitsbsness for the duties in view The also
will consist alone Of young healthy vigorous and ef-
ole ut capable OF enduring all the requisite
labor and pryations and intelligent enough to apps
cste the Importance and sauary results Of the mission
upon which they are to be sent
In every particular this expedition will be thorough
prepared for the work before it. The vessels will all be
peculiarly adapted for it in their construction and equi
Uert. ALI the late and well established improve ments in
the machinery Of steamers have been introduced into
yo hanco,k ana the ooats nave been constructed IN
the beat manner with special reference to the contem
plated surveys
the selection of the requisite ornaments efforts have
been successfully to obtain the most perfect Of every
kind and such will prove efficient in their appropriate
uses Thus shsrps breecb loading rifle With Msynacds
primer and Colts improved revolver, will occupy their
In the scientific departments the circumspe ction
n mapiSeted The astronomical instruments are Obtain
Cd through the National Observatory at Washington and
Of the very best quality. Many of them under
stand have been made in this city under the supervision
improvements suggested in the experience OF the
and typographical surveys and of the naval service We
assured indeed by those who competent TO judge
Of their merits that instruments perfect and well
adapted TO their could not elsewhere be obtained
either in this country or in Europe.
Scientific miscellaneous libraries for the of
both the officers and men have also been provided and
thus the best Of preserving order aud discipline
and Of securing Improvement will constantly be at hsnd
The Of collecting inform natural history
have been exceedingly we'll cared Tor to the
ninute particular nsomuch that complete photograph
ic apparatus will form part OF the Implements supplied
In the stores Of these vessels the particular
gard had to all the possible wants Of the journey
Clothing adapted TO the many vcissudes Of the varying
climates food of the most wholesome aud fitting kinds
prevenve and remedies for the scorbuc affections so
generally attendant long vCyageS-thaSe aud all
other precautions suggested by experience and
hence, have been provided literally to give every
Of the safety and welfare Of the several
We understand that this expedition will probably
three years In the Of varied
important work ard in returning to the Atlantic
this time IL will traverse the waters Of mauy OF the
hitherto ubrequepted regions bordering upon the Pact
nc ocean On the one side the coasts of California
and Oregon on the other the regions OF kamschatba
and the islands of Jspsn in the north 10 very high
degree Of latitude the Of adventurous whsers
and in the SOUTH the countless islands Of the ocean,
impeifectly knownoo the civilized nations of the earth
yet many Of them inhabited by human beings
dition challenges our pity and whore characteristics in
vite the scrutiny Of the learned and the curious
One of the ost remarkable snd. ost interest
ing island groups in the world is the Sandwich Islands
They form the Nat urai stopping place for all the vessels
plying between China Japan and the coasts of Cafor-
mia They already the established resort of our
whaeships. six hund,ed of which have already taken
haibor there within single year and not Of thu N
with the meagre facilities existing aferrng their
caTgoes OF these ports In the lpse of but few
more they will constitute the great commercial depot OF
many nations Through them will pass the tdngs from
China that viii be thence received news in London
some twenty thirty days Iater.
At present sail vessel make the voyage from Can.
ton to San Francisco in forty five days. but is thought
that ocean steamers which must necessarily touch the
fourteen days The passage from San Francisco to Pana
ma now occupies twelve days. When the railroad shall
be completed the sixty mics transit tue isthmus
w he ma de in three hours and thence to New York in
eight days Bot how long will the Isthmus be the way
Of tranfi from The Pacific to the Atlantic shores Who
tell The Western States of this Union are neither
Esess nor idle They are alive 10 their interests and
full OF entorprize They will connect their mercan
tile cities with the ports Of the Pacific by railroad and
telegraph wires. Before many years shall pass. not
only viii the Canton be transmitted By telegraph
from San Francisco 10 81 Louis and thence 10 the
Atlantic coasts within sixteen eighteen days after
the Of the incidents At Canton but chests Of
tea and bales Of siks by the conveyance
the ocean will be there opfnta within ew brief days
thereafter and st Louis fes ago unimportsn
village amidst the yilds Of the West will be the city of
commerce and divergence for The choicest products Of the
Celestial EmpIe and sixteen days il is confidently pre-
dcted by many will b. suient lapse Of time to enable
the merchant Of New York 70 read the dispatches Of his
correspondents at Canton
In view Of such important prosble facilities of inter-
course with China japan aud tbs great aterm eda' @
depot Of trade in the Sandwich Ianos no portaut is
that national vessels should ~ our lar
famiar object In every inlet to the great Pacific ocean
How necessary If IL that enlightened nd scienti nayi
gators should lead the way through the may laSyrnths
Of the clustering isles aud that clear and accurate chart
should be made Of eyay chanut TO be pougted by the
heels Of our ships and ocean steamers
Congress has appropriated for this expedition m
dred and twenty-five thousand 6ollars; large to
be but how small when contested with the sgri
fude Of the work TO be accom- he'd, Our government
derives from is Import duties about fy millions dol
bars and this under perhaps the lowest prac-
ticabe tariff Of duties The that thus sustans
the government aks but little in return for the want
offuch information as i Is the present purpose 70 Obtain,
whse fhip OF four thousand barrels OF sperm oil
lost not long ago tbs Msmnon with a ffeighs worth
azo GOO p.rished in like manner, and recently the
Huntrsss lost in Behring'S BY running upon pre-
viously unsscertaned shoals These losses all OF which
might have been prevented faithful charts hal existed
10 guide the naygstors Alright exceed in amour, Ave
times the cost Of the present important enterprise.
How unenpgly then. does true economy gaiie us
20 liberal system Of appropriations for purposes
% sslutary and benehcen Yet limited rs our
navy h. how pleasing it II to perceive The general
scquiecence OF Government aud people in thu deyo
ton Of important portions Of 1t 70 purposes wholly
subservieDt TO the pursuits Of psacs Danish fro
minds all other considerations than such relate
the business advantages TO be promoted Such exhi
bon goes further toward ennobliug and eevstiDg
ptions Of man than the record Of the most
and aDguinary conflicts.
We gra'i6ed in being enabled to sss in connexon
with this subject that the preparation and equipment Of
this expedition has proved TO the present able aud
phhsd Secretary Of the Navy highly agreeable task aud
that he has unaffected prompt and com nendsbe APP
probation Of the project and has eyinced the utmost
hberality and roolute determination q have
thing executed and provided acceptable aui efficient
manner.
The command Of the expedition aso devoves upon one
whose courage, whose ability, who'e past services and
whose humane feelings and generous and elevated
seter afford Ian ample guaranty that will attend
ais efforts and that hs sbors will prove worthy the sd-
nrA,ion and gratitude Of his oountrymen