The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-06


May. The Saranac viii be relieved early next year
Owing to the return of most of the vessels of this squad
ron early in the year. and their reie not arriving out un
I'll late the usual cruising has been n great measure In
terrupied the winter season in that sea being unayorap
to extended cruising
The East India squadron, Commodore Joel Abbot con
ssts of the flagship the sloop Macedonian, hs steam
\ fgste Powhatan, Captain William J. MeCluney, and The
soop-owar Yandalia Captain John Pope The storeshiI
John Kennedy transferred from the North Pacific explo
ring expedition is stationed Canton under the command
| OF Commander Oliver s. Glisson.
Commodore Matthew O. Perry recently in command Of
this squadron, has returned to the United Saies The
seam-frigate Susquehanna Capt Franklin Buchanan,
rived from this squadron at Philadelphia the 10th OF
March the steam-figate Mississippi Commander Sidney
Smith Lee at New York, the 23d of April the soop-
ofwar Plymouth Commander John Kelly, at Norfolk, on
the llt Of January and the store-ships Supply, Lieut.
Arthur Sinclair Lexington, Lient John Glasson and
Southampton Lieut. Junius Boyle, at New York, the
l2th and 10Th of February and the 3lst of March re,
specyely. l. ~
The treaty with Japan having been ratified by the Sem
ate Commander Henry A. Adams was sent out with II TO
China and his arrival Commodore Abbot was directed
TO despatch vesseowar to Japan, that exchange OF
ratification OF the treaty might be made with the Japanese
| authorities. The Powhatan, Capt McCuney, having on
board Commander Adams who was duly empowered TO eff
feet the exchange reached Japan safely and having
conplshed his undertaking the 2ls of February last
Commander dams returned to the United States II
the ntenton of Commodore Abbot TO have visited Japan
this year, but important matters at Shanghai occurring at
the time of the proposed visit, prevented H. aanE#
The continuance OF the civil in China has required the
unirng efforts and activity of this squadron to afford pro-
lection to the lives and property Of American citizens Ma
hodes of pirates inest the Chinese waters and in
terere seriously with in that region. Conmo-
dore Abbot has at all times shown hmsc prompt and
udcious in the discharge OF the delicate duties imposed
upon him. Several engagements have taken place between
detachments from the American men-ofwar on that sta
ton and the pirates which have resulted most dsasrousy
to the latter Many Of the patcal unks have been de-
stroyed their depos shore burnt and number of the
pirates killed aaal #a@ ~ .aM
In these several encounters the officers and have
conducted themselves calamity and honorable mention s
iuuI | do cf Liant aufa prahla anAn
Cauley, and Sproston Assistant Engineers Stamm and
Kellogg; Acting Masters Mates j. r. Williams and s. X.
Craig and Private Benjamin Adamson, of the marine
corps who was dangerously wounded. deem this a
proper occasion to suggest the purchase or building OF one
two of light draught to be used in the Chi
rivers indispensable for the protection of the inn
property belonging to citizens Of the United States
in China. ..g .a..a. m.-.se
The sioam-frigae San Jacinto, Commander Henry II.
Bell bearing the broad pendant of Commodore James
Armstrong, sailed from New York the 25h of October
to relieve the Macedonian Commodore Abbot will return
home in his flagship the arrival out of the San Jacno
The sloop-of-war Levant Commander VIM. Smith, also
sailed from New York the 18th of November to join
this squadron The Powhsan has been ordered to the
United States. The Vandaa will also be recalled SO soon
as substitute can be fitted out. E s.
The survey and reconnaissance Of the Behring's straits
the North Pacific and China seas, has been con-
tnued, under the direction of Commander John Rodgers
with commendabe activity and satisfactory results Ear
y in September 1854 the vessels OF the expedition con-
sstng of the Yincennes Commander Rodgers the
John Hancock Lieutenant Commanding Henry X. Stevens
the Porpose, Acting Lieutenant William King Bridge
and the Fennimore Cooper, Acting Lieutenant William
Gibson sailed IRON Hong Kong and proceeded to the Boz
min and adrone islands Loo Choo and tho islands to the
Westward for surveying purposes. They returned to
Hong Kong in February, 1885, with the exception of the
brig Popose which vessel parted company with the Vim
cennes on the 2st Of September 1854 in mdchanne be-
tween Formosa and China to the norhward and west
ward of the Peseadores Commodore Abbot instruct
ed the most dgent search to be made for her
So long time has since elapsed that the department has
been with reluctance compelled consider her ost
The fullest confidence reposed in her officers th6y
were all young, energetic, and full Of professional
pride The service, in this calamity, has met with
loss. Commander Rodgers apprehends that she
lost in very heavy typhoon of great force and in
tensy which occurred about month after their sepa-
ration in which many vessels dsmasted and greatly
injured and the Vncennes narrowly escaped The Por-
poise have met Commander Rodgers at the BONN
islands, after performing certain duties Commander Rod
gers waiting there somewhat beyond the appointed
time went in search Of hervisitng Loo Choo and other
islands and places where he thought IL possible she might
have been driven In the gale but without gaining any in
| tegence Of her. Subsequently, the Fennmore Cooper
and the John Hancock have thoroughly explored the Pes
cadocs aud round the island of Fomosa but without sue
cess. H#.
The expedition again left Hong Kong in March, survey
ing the sands between Loo Choo and Japan the KuriIo
islands thence TO Peopauas where the vessels separated
taking up different routes Of survey. The Fennimore
Cooper proceeded TO Aca of the Aeutan islands
make inquiries in relation 10 the fate of the officers and
of the whaleship Monongahea, which II Ia supposed
lost in the autumn Of 1853, in attempting, during
gale the seventy-second passage in longitude l72 deg
west Diligeut inquiry made, and the Islands OF Sc
goum and Amougbta, which lie on each side OF the pas
sage, thoroughly examined. At Atcka still sev.
era waercasks supposed have belonged TO the miss
ing vessel but tdngs of tho officers and crew. all o.
whom sro supposed to have perished with the vessel
The Vinconnes sailed from Petropaulaski and entered
Behring's straits reaching the harbor Of Glesenappe
the Asiac side Commander Rodgers left At this place
party under Acting Lieutenant John NJ Brooke for oh
eryaons during his absence further north He then stood
TO the north for The purpose Of verifying the position
land in about "a deg north and 75 deg west placed upor
the Admiralty charts by her Britannia Majesys frga
Herald Captain Kelett 10 examine, IL possible Ploye
island reported to have been seen by the officer ant
then endeavor TO reach "Wrsngeps Land described tc
WrangeI by the natives visible in clear weather rou
Cape Yakin. Running the tail Of Herald shoal, OF
which was not less than IL fshoms water, be passed
\ Herald island and stood 10 the northward until he raI
through the position Of the land given The Admiralty
chart and TO anchor in AZ athons In latnde72 deg
05 min longitude ia deg 81 min. west II was 80 olea
that the horizon apparently without limit No lane
could be from the royal yards and the water as far a
the vision could reach free from Ice he then returned
to Herald island the southeas point OF which heter
mined n deg n min north longitude It's deg 20 min
i west From the summit Of the island no land could b
In any direction although the horizon good Run
ming towards Plover island when half way from s alcget
position his progress arrested by barrier OF Ice M
clear Commander Rodgers Of opinion that this islant
does not exist and that Captain Keett msed by ap
pearances
Running for Wrangels Land-which has never beer
seen by Europeans-when within miles Of s position
and in the reported Poynia sea- in latitude 20 deg
Al mn longitude III deg 2l min f. be was again arrest
ed by barriers ice No land could be though N
thought that the vision extended for ak eight miles il
\ every direction.