Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-06-04
THE NORTH Pacific EXPEDITION.

THE NORTH PACIFIC EXPEDITION.
The E1peditioa Of Exploration and Saroey y inc
North Pacific Ocean, China, and Jaeua Seas,
Behring's .Straits, DC.
The Rnggold Expedition, which just sailed from
the Navy Yard at Brooklyn, HIS recently excited much
interest in the minds Of the literary and scientific portion
Of community The .noroughness OF the
which have been mads and the completeness OF the out
ftresultng from the determination OF tne aoio I'm
mander TO ieaye nothing undone OF unsuppnea ~ .h
could 90 Of advantage In regions whc,e Io M - 49,
n,iances of investigation can be procured-naFe ooo
iad tho whole time Of the principal ohcers ior inc i
few months. Only those who have ,oaa -. ;,.r;
cacy oil the j u,ung out an expedition so varied
=. rs objects appreciate the and trouble which
have necessarily been taken. The time thus occupied,
however, has given opportunity to correct the erroneous
ideas which have existed to great extent IN the public
mind in regard to the object destination and relations Of
the expedition The notices of the press at first so in
correct even giving out the idea that the squadron form
ed only part Of the japan Expedtonfrom which, in
reality it is entirely disconnected have recently become
more numerous and their information more reliable
These notices. however short and of very general
character referring only to more practical matters or to
statistical views of the vessels and their officers.
1t is the object of the present paper to give more de-
tailed account of the scientific objects of the expedition
in oil departments whether economic otherwise far
have been able to ascertain them, and thus satisfy
the demands Of the intelligent and enlightened Of
our citizens.
1t will be seen from the following statements that there
is department Of science the knowledge of which
could be increased by researches in the region forming the
of operations that has been duly considered
and for which all provision has not been made that cir
cumsances would allow This cannot be said of former
undertakings of this character even OF those whose pa
ronage and pecuniary have been much more
extensive. True in these expeditions some particular
sciences have received much greater attention The sin
gle department Of zoology has in been placed
in charge of corps Of six savans while other
sciences have been entirely neglected In the present
only two three of the scientific corps could be detailed
for that department but, the other hand important
untouched have here received their due proportion Of
tention No proessed chemist for instance has hereto
fore accompanied expedition while in the present in
stance Mr. Storer Of Boston, who has for time stu
died with Prof Horsferd of Harvard University goes
provided with extensive and well selected chemical
apparatus Photography too under the superntendence
Of Mr. Kern will be practsed wherever opportunity shall
occur The apparatus and preparations in this latter de-
partment are complete and in great variety.
In speaking of the extended and well-provided cond
ton OF the squadron cannot forbear speaking of the
beralty of the respected ExSecreary of the Navy the
Hon. j. p Kennedy during whose official the Ex
pedion organized and since promptly and energe
cay sustained and completed by the present
Secretary and statesman, the Hon. j. c. Dobbin whose
zeal and best wishes have been constantly exered for it's
efficiency and early departure. Commodores Morris and
Shubrck have been the Chiefs of the Bureaux of Ord
nance and Equipment, also Commodore Gregory, inde
fahgable in their exertions to make the Expedition all
that the of the arduous duties require the
country look for and expect Without Mr. j. p. Kenne
dys valuable assistance and determination promote
its interests the squadron have consisted of
two small vessels entirely insufficient to accomplish the
results contemplated should here also be stated that
the objects Of the expedition, originally contemplated
by the Departmental Washington entirely of geo.
graphical and commercial characters and it is owing to
the continued exertons of its welseected commander
whose liberal and progressive views have already been the
subject OF remark well to the ready acquescence
of Secretary Kennedy that the less practical but equally
science indebted for the advancement of its which
must result from preparations like these.
1t may be proper to give such details of the ap
ponments and equipments in each of the sciences
have been able to ascertain. OF the physical sciences,
astronomy deservedly stands at the head Commander
Rnggold himself will chief astronomer far
his superntendence of the whole Of the scientific
ons will permit As assistant astronomers he has ap
pointed Lieut. j. NJ. Brooke, and also Mr.. Coolidge, of
Harvard Observatory Cambridge whose sudies both
here and at the principal observatores in Germany well
fit him for the position In this department also most of
the officers of the,squadron will assist especially in
the minor operations The instruments provided
merous and of superior character
The science of geography is of course the great sub
ect Of investigation. In this Commander Rnggod has
determined that the observations shall be complete Not
only the prominent and obvious features but every
thing having any relation TO the science will receive
share OF attention. Economic considerations must of
course have the primary position the adaptation of the
waters Of the country to the purposes Of navigation
whether for the commercial whaling interest," its she
RES; its internal resources vegetable productions wood
mineral wealth, coal metas The accurate survey Of
walton will also be primary object The Typographical
and hyerographical parties for this purpose will be
ed from the officers Of the squadron who have been
judciousy selected by Commander Ringgod for their
proficiency in these depasments Most prominent among
these stands Lieut. Commanding Rodgers Of the steamer
John Hancock whose experience the coast survey es
pecaiiy amsng the Florida Keys, where he commanded
the surveying steamer Hetze well qualities him for the
task The drafting corps, whose hand will be ntrust-
ed the mapping of the field notes. consists Of nr d.
Stuart the chief who occupied position of the same
ture the Exploring Expedition and who win be assist
ed by Mr.. knorr, Mr. Hartman, aud Mr.. Baker There
are also among the officers whose talents in this
department will find employment, Leutenants McCor
kle and Fiebrown.
Mr.. Stuart who has been connected with the exped-
ton from its earliest formation and whose assiduity in
assisting Commander Rpggold in organizing the hydro
graphical department has been continual will have chief
charge ofmete9roogca instruments of which there have
been great variety provided. From the nature of the
researches in this science all the officers are expected
contribute less to its Advancement that the
Der Of observations in atmospheric phenomena may be
great possible.
no less important part of this science these regions
is the preparation Of series of accurate landscapes
which will give much better idea Of some features of
the country than could be obtained from survey alone
and in fact I'LL the only void left to complete the geogra
ply Of the region This department is entrusted to Pur
W. Brenton Boggs artist Of the expedition to whom
MIR. Kern acts assistant.
Dr. Grier, Surgeon Of the feet will superintend the
collection Of facts in ethnoogy and phology In the lat
ter science the Expedition is provided with blank vocabu
ares for of the dialects for which it is indebted
Prof W. w. Turner, Of Washington Dr. Nicho will col
lect facts in medical statistics and in kindred subjects
The department Of botany is in charge Of Mr. Wright,
who has recently made many discoveries in his science
and Nav Maxic ua will hp ao-