The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-23

which have been organized under the sanction of
government The noble object of this expedition
the munifcence with which II was fitted out, the
xtent of its explorations tend to stamp IL a. one of
the most important that ever sailed from our shores
The great navigator, Franklin, who sailed from
England eight years age, for the Arctic Ocean, and
who aroused the fears of chrstendom for his safety
among other philanthropists enlisted on behalf of
his discovery the sympathy and liberalty of Henry
Grinnell, of New York. This gentleman, in the
year 1850, fitted out two brigs-the Advance and
Rescue-and entrustng the command of the exped
ton to Lieut.. De Haven, Of the u s. NJ. dispatched
them to the Polar seas in search of the lost nav
gator. Passed Midshipman s. P. Griffith accom-.
panied De Haven, in command of the Rescue
and DR.. Kane, to whom the public is indebted
for some OF the most valuable papers of the
voyage, was also attached to the expedition as
surgeon. This band of adventurers penetrated
the icy labyrinths Of the Polar zone as high az
eighty degrees of latitude and although they failed
in the main object Of their voyage-the finding of Sir
John Franklin-yet their cruise added much to geo.
graphical knowledge Their lay north through
Davis strait and Bafins bay, thence onward to
Melville bay, thence west through Barrow straits
and Wellington channel, the farthest point Of their
journey. Dr.. Kane, in speaking Of some of the dis
coveries of the voyage, says, in regard to animal
life: cat the utmost limits of northern travel at
tanned by man, hordes Of animals of various kinds
have been observed travelling still further. The Arc
tic zone, though not rich in species is teeming with
individual life." Our limited space would not allow
us to mention in detail the various discoveries of this
important expedition.
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.
OF the various expeditions organized and carried
out under the auspices and with the assistance Of
our government, there is none which promises to be
productive Of more beneficial results to navigation
commerce, history and science, as that to Japan.
The isolated position which this semi.barbarous
country maintained for centuries against the civil
lied world, her obstinate refusal to enter into any
international treaties with other powers except such
as she herself had selected, and the inhuman treat
ment which our sailors who had been shipwrecked
on her inhospitable coasts had received from the
japanese authorities had for several years past at
tracted the earnest attention Of our government
Those sailors who were 50 unfortunate as to fall into
their power, were tortured in most cruel manner,
and carried about from part Of the country to
other in cages This was such an outrageous
violation Of the laws of hospitality recognized
even among barbarous nations, that our govern
it to pass with impunty. But self.nterest,
which is often stronger than the desire to protect in
dvidua rights, rendered interference in the peculiar
policy and exclusiveness of the Japanese absolutely
necessary. "The opening of Japan" says the late
Secretary Of the Navy, John P. Kennedy in his last
able and interesting annual report, has become
necessity which is recognized in the commercial ad-
venture Of all Christian nations and is deeply felt
1xxn oc -I~Y-
every voyager between California and China To
the barrier which had for centuries shut the
japanese out from communication with the civilized
world, to pave the way for an amicable understand
ing between them and our people, to open the ports
of Jeddo and other maritime cities in Japan to our
commerce. and to establish intermediate stations at
such parts Of the Japanese dominons as lie in the
route of our whaling vessels and Others are the
principal ends to be attained by this expedition. The
character of the country to which it was directed
made display of physical force polite, if not
necessary, for the furtherance Of the desirable and
important objects in view. To our Japanese friends
twenty four FOUNDER will prove more persuasive
than all che moral suasion that could be brought to
bear upon them In speaking thus, let it not be sup
posed that we counsel resort to such means as the
only mode of efecting our purpose-an appeal to
arms should only be made in cases where outrage
has been inflicted, and where its prevention for the
future is sought We do not organize an expedition
against strange country to force poison down the
threats of its inhabitants, moens uoenS-not to Sc.
cure benefit for ourselves only, but one in which,
if we are successful, the whole world may partci-
pate. Viewing it in its true character, the press of
France and England have spoken of it in the most
aattering terms and the governments of both coun-
tries, we believe, regard it rather favorably than
otherwise.
The naval fprce employed in this expedition con-
sists of the following vessels -