The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-04

tAey had first TO cross the Atlantic Ocean, and get
into Cooks track, then TO 10 70 the Cage dc Verde
30 cross the ocean third time before they ooad
reach the Cape Of Good Hope and making ry-sag,
and crossing the Atlantic three times. Now, by the
investigation Of tine subject OF he Winds on tie out
ward and hOmeward routes he discovered the space
which he had before mentioned; and ne concluded
that in this space the winds were the same 10 gong
cut and in coming home. Accordingly he recom-
mended vessels 10 10 take the middle or new route.
TIE W. III. c. Wright, OF Baltimore, jackson, master
vas the first vessel that had the courage 10 take the
sew route. The average passage 10 the equator
bsng then forty-one days Capt. Jackson made II in
twenty four de went TO Rio and back 10 little more
thaB the usual time occupied in going. This fact
called the attention OF American nayigators 10 the
subject, and enabled him Client. Manry) 70 pre-
coed with his Investigations. IL enabled him 20 ca
lkt the voluntary cooperation of ahiOmasters,
who furnished him with an absta ict log Of the
daily position OF the ship, OF The prevailing a.
IecOn OF the wind for each OF the three parts oil the
tWentyfour hours into which sailors were accustom-
ed TO divide the day, the height OF the barometer,
the state of the thermometer and any remarks which
Is might have occurred 10 them 10 make touching
the WING and the waves and the general course OF
navigation. By these means ne soon had volnn-
teer corps OF thousand American ships operating
" th him in all parts Of the ocean, and furnishing
him with the most valuable statistics. He then be.
gan 10 co ordinate the results which many gentle
en- were kind enough to give him his object being
10 present them the chart, that the experience
ef all who had gone before might be accessible and
available TO each CT those coming after and that, in
vhate yer part Of the ocean he might be- every
might be able 10 see IN each month OF the year what
was the prevailing direction and character of the
winds and thus be enabled to take advantage Of re-
Hions IN which the winds we're favorable aud TO avoid
ahoee in which they we're untavorabe. The gallant
gentleman here referred 10 chart presenting the
Iesuts Of his earliest Investigations pursued 10 the
manner which he had described. BY means OF
these Investigations, be said the average pay
sage from the United States ID the equator
had been reduced from mean OF forty one,
20 Q mean OF about twenty seven days. Since
Me Investigate were first commenced the passage
had been done in short time seventeen
days ard a few hours. 1t was found tina; this
chars old not give information enough. According
ly another system Of Investigation was commenced,
n which the ocean was divided into spaces OF five
degrees square five degrees OF latitude, and five of
longitude. Taking the log books, he co ordinated
the prevailing direction of the wind for each eight
hours OF the twenty four. In some eases he had
thousand observations Tor whole year; in Others
he had two thousand In q single month. OF cOurse
he then had the means OF presenting pretty fair
average of the prevailing dire jtion Of the wind in
that part OF the ocean, and IN that month OF the year
10 which the return applied. Among other things
that he learnt, the fact that II particular part
of she ocean, during winter or spring, the WIN
never found to blow from the westward or the north.
ward. The gallant gentleman here explained his
meaning, by reference to chart in which the ocean
was divided into squares of five de yrees Continuing
uB ODstlV AbOiS, Qc tuhb Lltst lENtstimGLOus,
imperfsct as they were, had led to such
knowledge Of The prevailing direction of the
winds during any given month, in any given
part Of the ocean, that the American navi-
gptors who had used them had found them Of the
utmost advantage, The distance from the United
States TO Rio bad been shortened twenty per cent,
and the average passage rom the United States to
California had been shortened month or more.
Now, the United States having perceived the ad-
yantages which they were deriving themselves from
this system, recognising the principle that time was
money, the Secretary OF the Navy Of that country,
wish degree of generosity which he mus. be per-
hitted to say would do honor 70 any statesman OF
any nation, had authorized him 70 place British ship
masters on the same footing as American ship
masters with regard to these charts. cloud cheers)
These charts furnished to American sh;pnasters
ca the condition that they should enter into an
90 keep and furnish to the government
m abstract log, according to certain form contain
ng the points Of observation which he had already
mentioned. In this mat er they preferred having
none but volunteers proceeding on the principle thar
ene volunteer was worth adozen pressed men. tHear
bear The whole system was one OF voluntary CO.
speIation; and instead Of beginning with British
s6pmassers as they we're obliged TO DO in the case
n American shipmasters, by taxing the matter on
trust, he was anht rzed az soon as proper arrange
Nent5 had been made, 10 place British slpm ssters
On the same footing With American shipmasters,
not only as to what they 1.-THE American GO
yerLment) might publish, bu. also as to what they
lad published. (Cheers) He had there some OF
We CDaits DelDDEkII " sy.tsul luSse 6uu OH
srs would be presented to any shpmaster who would
pledge himself 10 the officers who might be charged
with the distribution OF them 70 return an 1str sct
hog properly kept, and az the proper time. He also
held u his hand (eyhi oiting yolnme) book OF
ssilipg directions dc signed 70 accompany the charts,
telling masters how TO avail Themselves OF the charts
and what passages 20 make at particular seasons o.
the year. This book contained, in fact all the in
formation which requisite for the prorer under
OF the charts. Now Il was peculiarly de-
Earable that IA y gators should iuforma-
hon a. t0 the winds AMI currents in the Indian aud
Pacific oceans. The American government wished
particularly 20 enlist IN this service the voluntary co
operation of servants and masters who we're cor
eerneG in the trade round either Of the capes. He
was thoroughly satisfied that the average passage
hence 20 Australia nj sht by means of this system
Of investigations, be materially shortened, and re-
cuced 10 something ike certainty, even under can
vas. (Hear) II would, lie was sure, ultimately be
Of the most certain voyages, as ID duration, IN
any part of the world He was happy 70 fnd that
SINCE his arrival in England some OF pownerand
Of Great Britain had begun 70 underst and
the importance of thus new cut he called u new,
because Of The books Of sailing directions, and
none OF the ordinary guides Of nayigators N this
country had been accustomed 10 recommend il. Lsv
srpool had taken the lead this side Of the Atlantic.
Without knowing what the navigators and ship
owners of that port had been doing he predicted last
spring tina. when the system OF investigation which
be had pursued had been carried Oh in that part Of
The ocean, he would be able to lay down sailing d.
clipper ships whether from England or the Unitea
States, 20 Australia down TO 20 IS days, and tie
return voyage 70 the same duration. He believed
abe Marco Polo had just made the passage in rs
days, having previously performed II in 10. This az
least afforded reason TO hope for sh Jrer passages be
tween this part Of the world and Australia. Here
was book Of sailing directions exhibiting voume)
published by the highest authority known 10 naviga-
tors. II actually recommended sailin, vessels wanting
&c nome from Sydney for one half Of the yearto
como north Of Austraia-that was 10 say 70 proceed
10 the Indian Ocean through Torres >trllts ana
round by the Cape OF Good hope, against adverse
winds and currents whereas there we're winds al
most az fair trade winds TO enable them ~ perform
abe voyage by Cape Horn He undertook thai this
latter route was tnat which the most active vessels
engaged IN The Australian trade we're beginning 70
take; ar il vas a route which woul3 he was sure
render Z practicable tor one Of those tne clipper
ships tc make the round voyage 70 Australia aa4
back IL from rs TO l3j days. (Hear, hear BE.
Sore be eff tie United states, he had the honor 81
addressing q note 70 The British Minister a. Wash
Ington stating that be had been authorized 20 pls
foreign sbipmasters on the same footing as Amer
ean shgrasters with regard 70 these charts aad