Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-05-04
THE PACIFIC SURVEYING EXPE-
DITION,

An article in the Washington Union states
that the squadron desi gned for this expedition,
which has been for some time past fitting out at
the New York Navy Yard, will soon sail upon
Its appointed service it being expected to pro-
coed to Norfolk during the next week. The
squadron is under the command of Commander
Z. Ringgold and is not, rs has been supposed in
any degree attached to the Japan expedition,
under the command of Commodore Perry. 1t
originated under a special act of the last Con-
gress, which appropriated one hundred and
twenty-five thousand dollars "for the building or
purchase OF suitable vessels. and for prosecuting
a survey and reconnaissance, for naval and com
mercIal purposes, of such parts of Behring's
Straits of the North Pacific ocean, and the
China seas, as nre frequented by American
wEaleships and by trading vessels in their routes
between the United States and China Instead
OF purchasing the vessels, the late admnistra-
ton, MS we learn from the annual report of Sc
cretary Kennedy, preferred to employ "such
naval resources as the department could COM
mand, rather than confne it to such limited sup
ply would have resulted from either building
or purchasing vessels, and providing for the
other details of this service out of the fund en-
trusted to the department.
The squadron, organized by the late admi-
| nistration, consists, therefore, of the sloop-of-
war Vincennes, being the flag ship, the brig
Porpoise, the steam propeller john Hancock,
! together with tender and store-ship.
Inc expedition is expected to examine large
portion OF the Pacific ocean, the Behring sea, as
we'll as the straits of that name, and further
north it practicable, together with the ada
cent coasts OF America and Asia, with view to
| promote the whaling interests in those little
| known and how muct-frequented regions The
route between California;, Oregon. and China,
for vessels trading between these points, will
| claima large portion of the time and labor of the
| squadron. The various groups Of islands. now
little known lying in the track of vessels tradin
in the North Pacific, will be visited and sur
! veyed The Aleutian islam DIS, which form tn g
| southern boundary to the Behring or Kamptschat,
| ka sea- stretching across the Pacific ocean: the
Kurle islands, which extend from japan to
| kamtschatka and the sea of Okhotsk will be ex-
amined; the Japan islands and adjacent seas, as
we'll as the Gulf of Tartary, will be part of the
| field OF labor as will also the China, Sooloo, and
Celebenn seas, with the numerous islands, straits,
| and passages in that neig hborhood, now SO inn
perfectly known, though the throughfale of the
| hundreds of our vessels tradiag in the East To-
| dies.
| Besides the extensive photographed opera
tions contemplated, an efficient scientific co rps
will accompany the squadron, and it is int nded
to allow the gentlemen composing the corps
every facility to prosecute researches in their re-
spectlve branches OF science, which will not in
terfere with the primary objects of the expedi-
| ton.
This isthe second surveying expedition, upon
what may bs called large scale, which has
| been sent out by this government; and from the
objects to which it is devoted, as we'll as from its
ample means, and the character Of the officers in
charge OF it, much benefit to the great CONNER
cial and maritime interests of our country may
be expected from its operations. Arrangements
have been made to send to the United States
promptly copies of the surveys made, and al
other useful information obtained by the expedi
ton. so that its bors may at once be- made avail
able to the public benefit.