Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-10

how to appreciate such acts OF daring and HUI
mainly. The recital OF their hair-breadth escapes
their terrible conflicts with natures barriers,
which seemed 10 mock their efioris-their alter
nations Of sad misgiving and sustaining hopes
lmpart truly an air OF romance 10 thls unostenta-
tious exhibition OF genuine herolsm In about
four months with their little barques, they sailed
eight thousand miles-fully circumnavlgated BAT
fms bay-passed further north into Smiths sound
at its northern boundary, than any one, save Dr.
Kane, and nearly TO Beechy island-yisited vii
lage of Esquimaux, from whom, after hours OF
difficulty, by means of signs and drawings, they
learnt the point 10 which Dr. Kane and his party
had directed their course-mmediatey changed
their route-found the unhappy party al Discoe
island, and returned them in safety their coun-
try and iriends-thus accomplishing the benevo-
lent purposes of Congress.
The following named officers of the navy were
| attached TO the vessels of the expedition
To Ms Relsassn
Commander ii. j. Hartstene, commanding the
expedition Lieutenants William S. Lowell and
Joseph p. Fyfie; Assistant Surgeon James Laws;
and Boatswain Van r. Hall.
To the "Arctio"
| Lieutenant Commanding Charles c. Smms
| Lieutenant Watson Smith, and First Assistant
| Engineer Hartman Newell DIR. John X Kane,
| brother of Passed Assistant Surgeon Kane, who
volunteered for the service, was attached TO the
| Arctic medical officer
| II is well known that Dr. Kane left the United
i
| in June, 1853, under orders from the Navy De-
| partment, and AT the same time under the patron
age of distinguished philanthropists. His report
is brief but full Of startling incidents and thrilling
| adventures. more detailed and elaborate
| port will ultimately be made The discoveries
/ made by this truly remarkable man and excellent
! officer will be regarded as valuable contributions
| TO science. He advanced in those frozen regions
far beyondhis intrepid predecessors, whose explo-
| rations had excited such admiration. His residence
for two years, with his little party, far beyond the
| confines of civilization, with small barque for
his home fastened with icy letters that defed all
efforts for emancpation-his sufferlngs from in
| tense cold, and agony from dreadful apprehen-
sons Of starvation and death for that space of time
| his miraculous and successful journey in open
| sledges over the ice for eighty four days-not
merely excite our wonder, but borrow. moral
| grandeur from the truly benevolent considerations
| which animated and nerved him for the task.
| commend The results Of his explorations as
worthy of the attention and patronage OF Con-
| gress.
/ MISCELLANEOUS.
the reports of the chiefs of the several bureaus
attached to this Department will exhibit fully the
/ condition of all matters coming properly under
| their cognizance. The gentlemen presiding over
| these bureaus have not merely discharged their
| duties with ability, but have manifested every dis
position 10 adopt and introduce into the service
| such reforms and Improvements as experience
| and observation suggest.
| The Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks
exhibits in his report the progress made in estab-
| fishing navy yard at Mare Island, California
and the state of the public works AT other sta
| tons.
| II is gratifying to learn, through the reports
made to the Bureau ofOrdnance and Hydrography
from different vessels al sea- that increase atten-
ton is now being paid by the officers TO practical
| gunnery and the instruction Of the men in this
| branch. Interesting information is also furnished
| that armament and ordance equipments are gener-
| ally efficient and satisfactory II is my design, at
| an early day. 10 assign Commander Dahlgren TO
| the command of vessel devoted exclusively 10
| gunnery practice, with view 10 the proper train
ing Of both officers and men in duty which al
last, constitutes the real effectiveness of man of
| war.
| The Naval Academy is in successful operation,
under the dlllgent supervision of Captain Colds
| borough. There are now attached TO il, for in
| structon, one hundred and sixty -four midshipmen
and acting midshpmen. The board Of examiners
for last year in their report express themselves
as not merely satisfied with, but really amazed at.
the remarkable proficiency exhibited by the under
! graduates, well as the graduating class and as
much impressed with the variety, minuteness, and
exactness of the teaching and the modes of exami-
| nation.
| For details, l refer you TO the report of the
Bureau of Ordnance and photography Every
effort is being made to establish this institution on
| a proper basis. | am aware of the apprehension
| that, IN the desire TO secure an accomplished
| education the more practical duties Of the naval
/
ing that fears on this point may be dismissed, as
| there is a settled determination to make seaman
| ship, and the learning necessary TO the severer
| and more practical duties Of the naval officer,
paramount and indispensable. The Practice Ship,
| Lieut.. Joseph +. Green commanding, cruised
during the summer months, along our northeastern
| coast She had on board the I'd and 4th classes OF
acting midshipmen. The report of Lieut. Green
speaks favorably of their proficiency in both sea
| manshlp and gunnery.
4 Gratifying evidences ri the higb estimation in
which the labors of the Naval Observatory are
| held at home and abroad continue 10 be received
| Several new sheets of the Wind and Current
| Charts, and an enlarged edition of the Sailing
| Directions, which accompany them, have been
/ published during the year. The usefulness OF
| this work expands with its enlargement. Other
| maritime nations approaching the value of this
plan OF investigation, have united in common
system OF observations for its further prosecution.
| Il is earnestly suggested by Lieut. Maury that
this system of meteorological research, if extended
| TO the land, would afford for the agricultural
interests of the country, and for science, too
results quite as important those which com.
| merce and navigation have already received from
IT.
Lieut.. ellis IS still labonously engaged in the
discharge OF the special duties assigned to him.
vi the results OF the astronomical expedition
transmitted TO Congress in July 1854 two vol
umes have been published These embrace full
account of the geography, climate, earthquakes
agricultural, mineral and commercial resources
natural history, &c, of Chile, together with the
narrative of Lieut.. McRae's journey across the
Andes and Pampass of the Argentine Confedera-
ton. Volume is now in press and will be
ready Tor distribution during the winter II con-
talns the special observations and discussion of
the solar parallsx the object for which Congress
more Immediately directed the expedition The
magnetical and neurological observations, 10 form
volume ., have been reduced and tabulated, and
the printing will be proceeded with immediately
considerable progress has also been made in the
preparation Of volumes and 5; but, as they will |
contain nearly forty thousand observations, Of
which more than twenty thousand Of the stars |
were never before observed, il is scarcely proba-
bic that the last volume will be published in less
than eighteen months.
The Nautical Almanac, under the supervision |
OF Commander Davis, is attracting much atten- |
ton IN our own country and abroad and al |
tnough the estimates are somewhat larger than |
formerly, trust that its merits are such as 10 se-
cure the honorable consideration of Congress-
After much reflection and attentive obserya-
ton OF the practical working of the present sys-
tenn, am very favoraby inclined to the plan sng-
gesied by predecessor, of establishing a distinct
corps in the navy, whose duty shall be confined 10