New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-07
THE NORTH PACIFIC EXPEDITION.
The Expedition Of Exploration and Survey TO thu
Nsrth Pacific Ocean, China, and japan Seas
Behring's straits, &c.


Behring's straits, &c.
From The National 1nteligeneer.
The RDggod Expedition which has just sailed from the
NAVY Yard Brooklyn ha recently excited much interest
n the minds Of the literary and scientific portion OF our
community The thorOUghDess of the preparations which
have been made and the completeness of the ouit-re
shifting from the determination OF the able Commander 70
leave nothing undOne unsupped which could De oil use
or advantage in regions where none OF the appliances OF
Investigation can be procured - nave occupied e sne
months Only those who have experienced The inncacy
Of business Of fitting out expedition 80 varied IN
its objecs spprec ate the and trouble which
have necessarily been taken. The time thus occupied,
however has given opportunity 10 correct the erroneous
dess which have existed, to great extent IN inc puohc
mind in regard to the object destination and relations OF
The expedition The notices Of the press at hrst so moor
root even giving out the idea that the squadron formed
only apart Of the Japan Expedion-ffom which ~ realty,
Is entirely discOnnected) have recently become more
numerous and their inform itiOn more reliable These
notices however short and Of very general character
efring only to practical matters, or to statistical
views Of the vessels and their officers
II Is the object Of te present paper to give more dc
tailed account Of the scientific objects OF the expedition
M ali Departments whether economic otherwise, as far
As We have been able 10 ascertain them aud thus satisfy
The demands Of the intelligent and enlightened of our
citizens.
n will be seen from the following statements that there
scarce department Of science the kbowledge of which
could be increased by researches in the region forming the
Operations that has not been duly considered and
for which all provision has been made that crcumsau
would allow. This cannot be said of former underak
gs Of tins character even of those whose patronage aud
pecunsry resources have been much more extensive.
True In these expeditions particular sciences have
received much greater attention The single department
Of zoology has IN been placed in charge OF
corrs OF six while other sciences have been
entirely neglected In the present only two or three OF the
scientific corps could be detailed for that department. but
on other hand important subjects of research before
but slightly considered or t untouched have here recev
~ their doe proportion OF attention No procssed chemist
for Instance, has heretofore accompanied an expedition
while the present Instance Mr. Soer OF Boston who has
rome time studied will Prof Hofsord of Harvard Uni
Ssrsity gees ont provided with an extensive aud wells,
lscied chemical apparatus rhgogr'pny 700; under .ne
opportunity shall The apparatus and preparations
IN this letter department complete aud in great variety
IN Aheakips Of the extended and welprovded condition
,f,he rauadron we cannot orbear ,peaRiu Of the hber
~ Of the respected exSecroary OF the Navy Hon j. 2
Kennedy during whose official career that Expedition was
Qrgsnzed and since promptly and energehcaly sustained
and completed by the present enlightened Secretary and
statesman Hon j. G. Dobbn, whose zeal and best wishes
have been constantly exerted for It's efficiency and early
departure Commodores Morris and Shubrck have been
las the Chiefs OF the Bureaux OF Ordnance and Equpmen
also Commodore Gregory interchangeable in their exerhons
TO make the Expedition all that the natu OF the mdnous
duties require and the country look for and expect With
out Mr. j. T. kennedys valuable assistance and detern
nation TO promote its interests the squadron might have
consisted Of one ortwo small vessels entirely insufficient TO
ACCOMPLISH the results contemplated II should here also
be stated that the objects OF the expedition rs originally
contemplated by the Department at Washington were
f,ely a geographical and commercial character and II Is
owing the continued oxertions OF ITS well selected com
marder whose liberal and progressive views have already
been the subject Of remark, well as TO the ready
auescence OF Secretary Kennedy that the less practical
but equally important subjects have received attention.
and that science indebted for the advancement of s
cause which must result from preparations like these
IL may be proper 60 give such details OF the ap
pOinme Is and equipments IN each Of the sciences a. We
have been able to ascertain. or the physical sciences
astronomy dCservedly stands az the head CommAn
der Ringgold himself viii act as chief astronomer. As
far as his superintendent Of the whole of the scientific
operations win permit As assistant astronomers, he has
aipointed Lieut. J NJ Brooke, and also Mt Coolidge Of
Harvard Observatory at Cambridge whose studies both
here and at the principal ObservsOries in Germany well
III him for the position In this department also most of
the officers OF the squadron will assist especially in the
minor operations The instruments provided are nu'
mtrcus snd ola superior character
The science Of gtogra ply Is of course the great subject
NJ ns,es,aon Fin this Commander Rinrgcd has de,er.
mined thai the observations shall be complete Not only
the prominent and obvious features but everything
having any relation 60 the science will receive share o.
attention Economic considerations must of course have
the primary positions the adaptation OF the water; o. the
country TO the purposes OF whether for hecem
inercal whaling interest It's fisheries It's internal re-
vegetable productions wood mineral wealth,
coal metals The accurate survey OF all tue coasts and
islands lying within the scope Of observation viii also be
primary object The Typographical and Autographed
parties for this purpose viii be formed rom the sea oil
GERS OF the squadron who have been udicouy selected
by Commander Ringgod Tor then proaaenoy IN these de
rartmenlA Most prominent among these stands Lieut.
Commanding Rodgers OF the steamer John Hancock whose
experience on the coast survey especially among the kior
da Keys where he commanded the Surveying Het
eel vel qualities him for the task. The drafting corps to
whose hand viii be intrused the mapping OF the fsld
notes consists of Mr. T. d. Stuart the chief who occupied
FccoAt
and who will be assisted by Ms. knorr Mr. Hartman and
hlr Baker There are also among the officers some
whose talents in this department VIII Gud employment "a
Leutenants MoCorkle and tllebrown.
Mr. Stuart who has been connected with the exped,on
from It's earliest formation and whose asSdaty in ASSISTING
RibggOd In organizing the hydr0grsphc,l
has been continual will have chief charge o
metz orooccal Instruments Of which there have been
sreaf variety proSided From the nature OF the rsss
n, this science all the officers expected to contribute
more or less to its advancement that the number Of ohse
vstons in atmospheric phenomena may be as great
possible.
no less important part Of this science in these regions
the preparation Of series Of accurate landscapes which
will give much better idea OF sons features OF the
country than could be obtained from survey alone and
IN fact fn the only void let to complete the geography Of
the region This department is entrusted 10 Pars0r w.
renton Bogg artist Of the expedition to when Mr. Kern
acts as assistant
rDr Grer Surgeon Of the feet will superntend the col
lection Of facts IN ethnology and phology In the latter
science the Expedition provided with blank voeabusreS
for some Of the dialects for which 1t is indebted 10 Prot
w. W. Turner, Of Washington. DR. Michel viii collect
acts in medical statistics and in kindred subjects.
The department Of botany is in charge OF Mr. Wright,
,ho has recently made many discoveries in hs science
: The region Of Texas and New Mexico lie VIII Do as
isted i'm The collection and preservation Of the specimens
~ horticulturist and some young uen who have been
kppsd among the seaHaen for that purpose.
A chief Zoologist Mr. Simpson, OF Boston Accomps
les The Expedition with Mr. Ames as Assistant Ia this
sns rt,as mi Ieut Mcclellan Of the vinceoaes wll rem
vvsfla al an kp