The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-22

Il
Unftea otates.
| The letter of our Washington correspondent,
in Wednesday paper, makes reference to three
exploring expeditions now about to set sail
from the United States, namely-the Arctic ex-
petition, under the command of DR.. Kane; the
Paraguay and La Plata, commanded by Lieute-
nant Page, and the China and North Pacific
seas, under the auspices of Commander Ringgold.
Besides these, there is the expedition Of Com
mander Lynch to Africa, and the Japan expe
dition Of which the flag ship has already sailed.
There is nothing for which the United States is
more distinguished nothing that shows in more
vivid coloring the active spirit and enterprise
of her sons-than these exploring expeditions,
partly scientific and partly commercial, bearing
around the globe the star-spangled banner which
for three-score years and ten has trumphantly
"braved the battle and the breeze" and is des-
tined to shed the light of the first true repubi-
caniem the world ever saw over every sea, and
land and kindred and tongue and people and
nation, to 'the farthest verge of the green EARTH
and rivers unknown to song" Let us give
resume of the principal foreign exploring expe-
ditions, of an official character, that have marked
our brief but brilliant history, from the exped-
ton of Wilkes to the present time, when there
are five of them in operation together s.
1.-The expedition of Captain Wilkes to the
South Sea, the results of which are alike ere
ditable to the country and the discoverer.
This was in 1861. His narrative. extend
ing to six quarto volumes beautifully Illus
trated has been published by Congress. and
| copies sent to every government in Europe, and
to some of them duplicates at their own re-
quest These. together with the scientific por-
ton of the work will cost the government
nearly million of dollars; but the expendi-
ture on this publication is nothing when COM
pared with the fruits Of the glorious enterprise.
1t is q contribution of science and discovery,
from the United States to the rest of the world,
of vast Importance in q maritime commercial,
and geographical point of view. 1t had been
long q disputed question whether the British
navigator. Sir James Ross Or Captain Wilkes.
were entitled to the palm for the discovery of
the Antarctic continent; but it has recently
been admitted. by the Geographical Society of
London that the honor belongs to the Anne
rican eailor who coasted that continent for
fifteen hundred miles, and made the first dis
covery of it, though Ross undoubtedly disco
vered it afterwards without knowing that Wilkes
had been ahead of him.
1.-THE Dead Sea expedition, conducted by
Commander Lynch who explored the sources
of the Jordan, descended its rapids for two
thousand feet, measured its volume. made
survey of its topography, tracing its course to
it's mouth. where it discharges itself into the
Dead Sea. He not only ascertained the pecu-
liarities Of this sacred river, but the still
greater and more wonderful peculiarities
of the Dead Sea, of which he made various
soundings, determining its bottom to consist of
solid salt. and discovering depressions produced
by volcanic action, which confirm the narrative
of the Bible in reference to the overthrow of
Sodom and Gomorrah, and the other Settles Of
the Plain" Here is beautiful contribution to
science and to scriptural geography, by Ameri-
can engineers.
3.-The astronomical expedition of Lieut.
ellis to South Peru, where he has established
an observatory, considered of great Importance
to the science Of the starry heavens.
4-The Grinnell expedition to the Arctic Seas
in search Of Sir John Franklin, under Lieut.. De
Haven embracing both benevolent and q scien-
tifc object. By this expedition important addi-
tions have been made to geographical science, in
relation to land and sea, and it is hoped that when
followed up by the expedition now in prepare
ton, the truth Of the theory Of an open Arctic
sea at the pole will be demonstrated.
| 5.-The second Grinnell expedition to the
Arctic Seas, in search of Sir John Franklin,
under the command of DR.. Kane, who was
surgeon to the first This, like the first. is
| of twof0ld character. embracing benevo-
lence and science; and if it fails in the
one there is every expectation that under
its brave and able commander, it will be
eminently successful in the other. 1t may
turn out like the case of the father, who when
| dying. bequeathed field to his sons. telling
them it contained crock of gold. They turned
up the field very carefully. but found none of
the shining metal. The result, however was,
that by this cultivation of the ground they
reaped golden harvests, which amply remune
rated them for their toll DR.. Kane may never
succeed in finding Sir John Franklin. but by
the perseverance sustained by that hope, he
may make other discoveries amidst the regions
of eternal ice of far greater Importance to his
country and to mankind than the recovery of
the lost expedtionist
6.-The Japan expedition, which partakes of a
commercial and geographical character. and at
the same time having spice Of the political
and the Christian in its composition While it
makes scientific discoveries of great maritime
Importance to our navigation of these seas, it
will make our flag respected. and our power
known to the barbarans. who, if they do not
receive the gospel in any other way. must he
converted by the roar of Paixhan guns.
THE expedition of Commander Ringgold to