Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-30
Foul the Overland Friend Of China, april 7th.
North Pacific surveying squadron.

NofLh TaciIlc surveying squadron.
In our number Of the 10th of September last,
we recorded the departure Of the United States
ship Nincennes, Commander Rogers, on a sur
veying cruise in the North Pacific, (Corea, il was
stated, was the destination.) The soop Por-
pose accompanied the Vncennes. A little more
than month before this record, in noticing the
i'll success which, up to that period, had attended
the United States North Pacific Surveying Expc-
dition we said: 'By the time certain courts mar
tai arc brought to a conclusion the southwest
monsoon will be blowing its last vesper, and then
the fleet may just as well remain Ill Hong Kong
try the strong currents and bolsterous elements
Of winter in the North The Justice of this
remark was verified with greater amplitude than
we then anticipated.
Nine days after leaving Hong Kong, off the
Pessadores, in a fearful gale, the Porpoise and
Vincennes parted company. The Porpose has
never since been heard Of and it is feared, with
too much reason, that the ill-iatcd brig foundered
with all hands Peace to the names Of the gal
liant spirits on board Of her. Less than three
months before that gallo the Porpoise achieved
immortal honor in rescung from the Pratas Shoal
[perhaps now her bed) FIVE hundred and twenty
Chinese, whom the humanity of the Pacific and
Oriental Superintendent here would have left to
perish OF starvation and madness. We thus then
(September l6) wrote Of that cruise Of the Po.-
poise;-"The future history Of the u. s. Sur
veying Squadron in these Eastern seas will con-
tam no brighter page than that which records the
account Of this errand 'on humane deed intent
1t should DO printed in lettors Of gold, margincd
with the word glory
better fortune attended the Vincennes
Following is a brief detail of what was performed
by her during the four.and-a- half months of her
absence from this port:
On the 29th Of September reached the BONN
Islands, and proceeded TO determine the onpi-
tude Of and 10 survey Port Lloyds.
On the 09th of Oetobar pynerianccd while M
anchor a terrific typhoon, commencing at N. f.,
thence s. f., and 10 S W., moderating at sun
set, after six hours fury. In this typhoon two
mounttin barometers were broken, and several
OF the instruments set up on shore blown and in
iured. For three consecutive years, il was stated
4 typhcon had occurred there ON the same day.
The bay was covered with pumce stone after the
typhoon, floating in perfect beds.
On the 9th Of November left the Bonns, and
three days afterwards encountered another ty-
phoon. In about latitude 80 as north, longitude
l4l east, sighted the rock d'Oro otherwise Ur-
mistead's Peak, solitary rock, hundreds of
miles from any land, rising in majestic grandeur
some three hundred feet above the ocean
On the 18th Of November reached Napa, on
the Great Loo-choo, and remained there survey
ing till December 18th. Taking the sunken w.
S. Saywood' crew and owner on board, the Vim
cenncs left for the coast Of China, whence, with
out stopping, after discharging the Saywoods
crew into the Nightingale, she again started for
Japan.
On tho 2sth Of December reached Kako Sima,
fine bay, said to be equal in capacity to that Of
Rio or Sydney, being twenty-six miles deep, aAa-
some half dozen across Mt entrance. The Vim
ccnnes anchored in and surveyed Thimagava
harhor, in this bay; but the mountains being
covered with snow ION tho I'd Of January there
was a frightrul snow storm, and observation diff
fcut in obtaining, kako Sima was left on the
9th Of January for n run south.
Passing through Van Dieman's Straits, sur
vey was made Of Tanega Sima. Passing Jakona
Sima, 5000 feet high, Captain Rogers named
the channel Vincennes Straits Then passed
through Colnett's Straits TO Naka Sima, and
away 10 Gu Sima. Here the weather was so
tcmpestuous, the Vincenncs taking eight days
after sighting to gct up 20 the island / and the
bread placed on board in Hong Kong found so
full Of weavels il was fit for no human being, il
was determined to return to this port TO recruit
Leaving Kak Rouma the Oath January, on
the 30th following, anchored in Hong Kong
harbor.
Yesterday the Vincennes again started for Loo
Choo, from whence she will proceed TO Japan,
thence to Bhcrnp's Straits, and here again, in
about years time, by the way Of California
During the stay here Mr.. Knoor, the hydrogra-
pher, and Mr.. Kern, artist TO the expedition,
have been busily engaged in completing charts
Of the whole of tho ground traverssd on the
cruise, which they succeeded in completing for
forwarding by the outgoing mail. Lieutenant
Brooke, in charge Of the Astronomical depart
mont has also been fortunate in completing
series Of valuable observations, the old buildings
of tho medical mission and rooms in the old Nor
rison shool having been placed by our Govern
ment at the disposal Of Commodore Rogers for
the use Of the expedition We have only TO add
that our anticipation, that cit is through the
great popularity of the Commodore there is hope
for success in the future, has been completely
fulfilled, and there is again prospect Of success
ful voyage
TS@ The Ladies' Calhoun Monument Associa.
ton at Charleston, South Carolina, have now