The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-06

imp0Hans - 1ts results to the commercial and
scieatanc wofa which has takes place for very many
yeas9past; and, indeed. may: be favorabiy COM
pared with any others which have been despatched
within the Ast half century. 1t consists of five
vessels under the command of Commander Cad
waInder Ringgold, which have been equipped
rugged. and manned with view to the peculiar
service for which they are designed; service OF
the utmost importance, not only to our country,
but to the entire word it is intended to examine
and survey large portion of the North Pacific
Ocean, Behring's Straits, and the Arctic Sea, 80
far north az may be found practicable. together
with the adjacent coasts of America and Asia
these surveys having for their object the promo
ton of commerce and of the whaling business in
those greatly .frequented, but slightly known re.
gions The necessity and high importance of such
an examination as is here contemplated becomes
the more apparent from our recent acquisition Of
California, and the establishment of a commerce
which is fast increasing between the United States
ports on the Pacific and those of China. AZ this
trade promises, In the course OF a few years-com-
paratively speaking-to be estimated in value by
mlons of dollars, it is evident that the route be.
tween our Pacific coast and the ports of China
should be carefully and scientifically examined;
and not only so. but that the various groups OF
islands lying in the track of the shipping trading
on the North Pacific should be visited and &C.
curateIy surveyed, and also that the Chinese,
Sooloo and Celebean seas, with their numerous
islands, straits and harbors, which now either
unknown or very imperfectly ascertained and To-
Gated, and through which hundreds of our vessels
will be trading with the East Indies. should be laid
down upon charts with the utmost accuracy, from
data obtained from actual surveys. This is not
all. Those who have paid any attention to the
commercial growth of the United States, must be
aware that our mercantile marine engaged in the
whale fishery now exceeds that of any other ma
ton in the world, and is nearly equal to that of all
the other nations aggregated. 1t il therefore evil
dent that an interest so extensive and vaIuahle
merits all the aid which our Government can, con-
sistently with its other duties, afford to it; and there
fore that the localities and true position of the
Aleutian Islands, which stretch nearly across the
Northern Pacific, and from the southern boundary
of the BehFing Kamstchatka sea, and the Kuriie
Islands, which extend from Japan to Kamstchatka,
should be examined and defined; and also that the
sea of Okhotek, the Islands OF Japan, with the
adjacent seas, we'll as the Gulf of Tartary, and
the approach and entrance of the large river
Amour, should form portion of the scientific la
bors of this extensive survey. All this labor, i'm
mense as 1t seems to be from this detail, is to be
performed by this expedition. and it is expected
that they Will be thus occupied for period of be-
tween four and five years. 1t is matter of con.
graduation to those who feel strong interest in
the progress of knowledge, that the duties of this
survey have devolved upon gentlemen who are full.
~ qualified to discharge them with efficiency and
to the satisfaction of ali concerned. These officers
are not novices in scientific surveys and exaruina.
tons. Commander Ringgold. now at the head of the
expedition, was commander of the Porpoise in the
Exploring Expedition under Commander Wilkes:
Lieutenant H. Rolando commands the Vincennes.
the flagship; Captain Davis, now commanding the
Porpoise. was also an officer in the Exploring Ex.
petition; Lieutenant Stuart, the Secretary and
the Exploring Expedition; Captain Rod gers, now
commanding the steamer John Hancock, is also
advantageously known gentleman of fine
scientific mind and attainments. And thus it will
h. 60 kkAA ILL IL IL
corps may be few in number, they are probably
more efficient than that of any previous expedi-
ton of a similar character. notwithstanding this
expedition is provided with efficient scientific
corps, it ia believed. and we may say understood
that the primary objects of this noble enterprise
the great naval and commercial interests of our
country, will never be sacrificed for the less i'm
portant scientific pursuits; but where time and
opportunity will allow, the gentlemen of the corps
will prosecu their researches in their respective
branches Of science, with an assiduity which will
add much to the present amount of knowledge in
natural history. We understand, and we hope our
belief may prove correct, that arrangements will
be made to facilitate sending home copies of all
surveys, together with other Interesting informa-
ton, 80 that the community may reap the benefit
Of this enterprise at the earliest possible moment
Having shown briefly what is designed to be eff.
fected, we will now speak of the means to be used
in carrying it into effect. The expedition, as we
have before stated, consists of five vessels Wig: the
Vincennes, eloop-o war, now converted into
barque, with an armament of four long 80 pound.
ers and four eight-inch shell guns on the gun or
main deck. three brass pivot howitzers on the spar
deck, (these howitzers are most beautiful pieces
made at Washington city expressly for this expe.
dition,) and one IL FOUNDER, field piece. to take
on shore IN case OF an emergency. The small
arms consist OF percussion lock muskets for the
marines, Sharps rifles, loading at the breecb with
May nard's primers. for the use of eeamen and 90
arranged that they will be slung at the back of
each sailor while he is rowing in the boat entirely
"a ho hrn,, L:
shoulder and discharged at moments notice
and also the most improved revolvers, together
with cutiasses and boarding pixies The steamer
John Hancock, OF about eight hundred tons, ia
barque. rugged, with an armament consisting of
one 24-pound and two IL pound brass pivot howit
GERS, OF the same description with those above
mentioned, and also small arms of similar char
acter with those used in the Vincennes. The brig
Porpoise is armed in the same manner as the
steamer Hancock, with the addition of two 80
pound long guns; as is also the survey and supply
ship John P. Kennedy, with the exception of the
80 pound cannon. This ship lie about 500 tons bur
imore Cooper is IN elegant modelof pilot boat,
about 80 tons, and armed with one r. pound brass
pivot gun, and small arms similar to those
used in the other vessels All the boats of the eouad
ron, especially the launches, are whale boats
and one boat of each vessel is provided With brass
twelye-pound pivot gun. Each vessel is also fur
nished with life buoys, with port fires attached a
number of India-rubber boat floats, and full suo
ply Ol HE preseTVers. among the additional
means of carrying into effect the objects designed.
the expedition is provided with the most improved
surveying, and magnetic instru-
ments, the most of which have been ma ufactured
in the United States, and with the utmost care and
accuracy, and they have been very highly spoken
of by all who have had the qualification of SEEING
them. The chronometers, being about tbirty in
number, are of the best quality which could be
procured Some of them were made by one of our
manufacturers in the city of New YORK
Besides the complement of officers of the navy.
who, under the direction of Commander Ringoold'
will have charge of the astronomic, hydrorraphic.
and magnetic departments. an efficient Scientific
corps is attached to the expedition All the de
partments of natural history will be attended to
Competent draughtsmen are also provided; and
among the scientific gentlemen there is photo.
graphist, chemist, taxidermist. artist, and math
ematical instrument maker. In TRUTH care has been
taken in the organization Of this service to furnish
it with every means of success. Each officer is
capable of performing more than one scientific du.
ty in addition to the regular duties of his positions
and with all this, and from our knowledge of many
Of the gentlemen engaged in this great enterprise,
we cannot zee how it possibly fail of rendering
eminent service to the cause of science and of BEN
citing in high degree their country and the world
as well as adding very much to their own fame
ind honor,
We have had the pleasure, and a great one il
truly was, of visiting and inspecting the arrange.
ments of the principal ship of the squadron, the
vincennes, more than once; she is fitted I'D espec.
ally under the eye of Commander Ringgod and
4 more beautiful, comfortable and snlendidiv.ar