The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-23
IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHES.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Inland & Maritime Exploring Expeditions
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
PRIVATE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.
THE NEW EXPEDITIONS,
he &c IN.

THE NEW EXP DITI0NS,
&C., &C., DO.
From the time when the Ph9ncians first launched
thsir gaeys upon the waters Of the Mediterranean,
until the present, the greatest practical advantages
10 mankind have sprung, directly or indirectly from
voyages and exploring expeditions. The desire to
become acquainted with the globe we inhabit and
DO further the commercial interests of nations have so
stimulated man TO voyages and adventures, that at
the present day the navigator has ploughed the
farthest waters Of the earth, and the pioneer has
psnetrated the deepest forests of continents. These
expeditions, while they have promoted commercial
and geographical knowledge have also incidentally
Led to various important discoveries in geology as
tzonomy and botany which discoveries have reveal.
ed some Of the mysteries Of nature, ard thus con-
iributed to the advancement of science. The United
States government, although young In comparison
with tho nations of Europe, has, nevertheless, dur
ing the short period Of her existence equalled any
pf them in her maritime expeditions and discoveries
and far surpassed them in her inland explorations.
We give brief history Of each of the most prcmi-
nent expeditions fitted out by our government, and
those organized by private enterprise, arranging
them chronologicaly, commencing with the mari
time, and ending with the inland.
PENDLEToN's EXPEDITION.
In the year 1929 was fitted out the first American
exploring expedition that ever sailed under the
patronage of the American government. It
consisted of two brigs the Seraph and Annawan,
and the command of it was given to Benjamin Pen.
dleton. The design of the expedition was the explo
ration of the Southern hemisphire, but owing to
inexperience, it was poorly fitted out and this TO-
eether with the mutiny Of the crew, was the cause
Of ts failure Captain Pendleton proceeded only to
the latitude of Cape Horn, when misfortune COM
PEELED him to turn homeward The failure Of this
expedition was matter of sincere regret inasmuch
as was the first trial of American enterprise for the
bsne6t Of commerce.
WILKES EXPEDITION.
The next effort on the part of the government to
accomplish the end frustrated by the failure Of the
above expedition, was made about ten years after,
and was eminently successful. The general govern
ment having in view the important interests en-
barked in the whale fisheries, and other adventures
in the Southern seas, fitted out an expedition for
the exploration of this portion of the GLOBE and also
to determine the situation of all doubtful shoals and
islands. The command Of this was given to Lieut.
Charles Wilkes Of the navy, who sailed from
Hampden Roads, Va, August 10, 1888. Liberal
appropriations were made by Congress 20 further
The ends Of this enterprise and the expedition was
provided with everything to promote scientific dis
coveries The feet consisted of the sloops Of war
vincennes and Peacock; brig Porpoise, and three
smaller vessels-the Relief, Flying Fish, and Sea
Gull. It was accompanied by Mr.. Hale as philolo
gist Messrs Pickering and Mr.. Peale naturalists
mineralogist, botanist, and horticulturist. This
expedition, second in importance to none ever under
taken, made complete circuit of the globe, and vi
sited and explored nearly every unknown latitude.
Its route lay around Cape Horn to Lima thence
west visiting all the important islands of the Pacific
ocean, thence south into the Antarctic sea, thence
through the East Indies, and thence homeward
around the Cape Of Good Hope. Captain Wilkes dis
covered the Antarctic continent on the 10th of July
1885, and penetrated the icy regions of the south
lar as the 66th deg oflatitude. Among the most i'm
portant incidents Of the voyage may be mentioned
the murder Of two Of the officers of the feet, July
26th, 1916, by the natives Of the Fejee Islands,
In retaliation an attack was made by the feet upon
the natives, and many of them killed. The soop of
war Peacock was lost at the mouth Of the Columbia
river in July, lS4l. Commodore Wilkes returned to
New York in the flag ship vincennes on the 11th
Of june lS42 after an absence Of nearly four years
As the events Of this voyage are historical it is
not necessary that we should here narrate them so
fully as the events Of recent expeditions the records
Of which have not yet been added to the volumes of
our libraries. At the time of the organization of
this expedition it attracted the attention of the
civilized world; and the honor and interests of
our nation were, in great measure, dependent upon
Its result Its successful termination is and will
ever be, matter of national pride, and the benefits
derived from it will continue to be enjoyed long as
Commerce shall send her ships across the trackless
ocean, and so long as geography and science shall
refuse to yield up their immense acquisitions from
the discoveries which it made.
LYNCH's EXPEDITION TO THE DEAD SEA.
The next voyage of discovery which enlisted the
aid Of government, was that to the Dead Sea lin the
year ls47. Lieut.. w. F. Lynch, commanding the
expedition, set sail from the port Of New York on
the 9th day of November, 1s47 and the expedition
being partly inland, it required but one vessel, which
was the u 8. storeship Supply. Lieut.. Lynch pro-
ceeded up the Mediterranean, through the Archi
pelago, and Gulf Of Smyrna to Smyrna, and thence
embarked on board an Austrian steamer and pro-
ceeded to Constantinople. Making but short stay
in the CITY of Mosques" the adventurers proceed
ed on their journey to explore the River Jordan and
the Dead Sea. The object of this expedition was to
ascertain from personal observation, the habits and
character Of the Orentals, well as to learn the
geographical position and nature of the country
country not attractive in itself, but interesting
from its historical associations both classical and
scrptural. Here was the birthplace of civilization;
here were buried the relics of thousand wears: the
ruins Of Balbec and Ninevah here invited the mus
ings Of the philosopher, and above all, this land
was rendered holy by the footprints Of our Sa-
vour. Our people looked forward with anx-
iety to any information which might be given
Of land 30 barren in its climate and produc.
Mons, yet 80 rich and luxurious in its associa-
lions, its antiquities and historic lore Captain
Lynchs expedition extended to all these places of
note or importance, and the valuable history Of his