Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-29
Minister to China.


The Washington Union of yesterday officially
announces that the Hon. R. j. Walker has accep-
ted the appointment of Minister to China. Re
ferring to the present revolutionary movement in
China, the Union sayss
Should this revolution be accomplished, it will
be the most important event of this century, and
NAV be fraught with ncalculable benefits to our
country and to the world. Ii is generally beley-
ed that the new dynasty will be more favorable
than its predecessor to foreign trade and inter
course and our increased commerce from tie At
2antic, as well as from Oregon and California on
tie Pacific, place this country in position for the
development of an immense trade with china
and the nIigh6orng States. The United States
and China are both great powers fronting upon
the Pacific. AM their products and manufactures
are admirably calculated for an immense and large
" beneficial trade and intercourse. We are the
only great nation that consumes tea, the staple
product of China, free of DUTY and our cotton and
cotton manufactures. and various other articles,
ought to be freely received in exchange.
The present crisis has induced the President to
tender this mission to the Hon. Robert J. Walker,
of Mississippi late Secretary of the treasury OF
the United States, accompanied by AL the neces-
object of this most important trust and Nh, walk
er, we understand has accepted the mission. IL
is well known that the last Congress placed TIE
mission to China upon the highest grade known
to our diplomacy Since this action of Congress,
new events have given to the mission still more
commanding character. There is at present no
diplomatic station upon which the public eye. not
only of our country but of all civilized nations.
will be more intently fixed. To this signal inter-
est and Importance of the mission alone, we pre-
sumo. it is owing that Mr.. Walker, whose poiti-
cal anteeedents 80 eminently fit him for the work
before him, has abandoned his well known prefer
ence for private life. and undertake this high and
difficult diplomatic service.
HENoRTuPAcIFIc EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
The u S. Survey and Store ship John L.
Kennedy sails this morning for the China seas
She is the fifth and last vessel of the North Pa
cifc Exploring Expedition, the first four vessels
having sailed on the lth inst. from Norfolk
The Kennedy goes via Cape de Verde Islands
and the Cape of Good Hope, to batavia on the Is
land of Java Being fast sailor. it is supposed
that she will reach Batavia, the port Of rendez-
vous, ahead Of the other vessels OF the squadron.
She goes in double capacity, both asa surveying
vessel and as store ship, and being strong and
swift, well manned anu equlPPeu, WIN lIyuio-
graphic and other instruments, and under the
management of able and skiltul officers, will
doubtless prove of great service in forwarding the
objects of the Expedition. 1t is anticipated that
during the winter these vessels will be employed
in taking soundngs and making charts of the com
paratively unknown seas about the Northern Chi
nese coast during the summer they will transfer
themselves to the whaling ground, in and around
Behring's Straits; the principal object of the Elk
pedition being to procure reliable charts of the
dangerous and mparatvely unknown portions of
the North Pacific which are frequened by our
whalers.
The objects Of this expedition being entirely
distinct from that of the Japan squadron, it is not
probable that the two will meet, unless unforeseen
emergencies should make it necessary to increase
the force under command of Commodore Perry
The duration of the cruise is uncertain, depend
ing upon the extent of duty to be performed, and
upon, the future action of Congress. We under
stand that the appropriation of one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars has been already expend-
ed, and further appropriations will be needed
~ Y Courier, Goth inst.
IU.px,xc ro VouTu -Daniel TT Wood