Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-04

We perceive body of reckless demagogues
and unprincipled men essaying to strain every
nerve in their endoavor to transform the USE
full, numerous, energetic and intelligent Tur-
ner societies into so many political hotbeds,
we cannot but admire the manly stand taken
| by so large a number of them, as manifested
| by the " Tagsatzung" at present in this city
May they succeed in bringing the "Bund"
back to its original benefcient purposes, for
attaining which "0ld Father Jahn'' organ
lied the fist Turner society in Germany, al.
most forty five years ago. "Gu Herp'-all
hail to their success,
The Abortive Cruise of the Independence.
The New York papers shed light upon Com
modore Mervine's failure in the way of oh.
tanning the information he was sent after in
the Independence, to the South Pacific. This
light is in tho shape of a report from the agent
OF the owners of the guano islands in question,
who accompanied the Commodore on the voy-
age. The following is synopsis of what he
takes occasion to say to his employers:
/ SIR: In confol nifty with instructions given
me on the 5th of November last by your COM
pany, proceeded with all dispatch to San
Francisco, where / found the flag. ship indie
pendence, Commodore VIM. Mervine, to whom
L Immediately presented my credentials, and
offered to make perfect the dispatches from
our Government by disclosing the position of
the guano islands belonging to your Company.
He deferred, however, and declined receiving
the same until he should conclude what vessel
to send, and when to dispatch her.
We sailed from San Francisco on the 18th
January, 1856, for the guano islands, via the
Sandwich Islands. would mention here that
while in company with the Commodore from
Mare Island to San Francisco, informed him
of the existence of two guano islands and of
their belonging to the American Guano Com
pany, and asked him if the letter from Gov.
eminent did not cover them both, although
only one was mentioned. He agreed with me
that the spirit of the letter comprehended both
or moro, and he should visit them, and in &C
cordance with my desire, would 20 to the east
ernmost island first, as advised per letter, OF
which the folloHin is copy:
StS Francisco, Jan. 4, 1855.
a. II. Benson, Esq, President american
GuGnO Co., Neso York.
SIR l have the pleasure to in form tho COM
pany of which you are President, that the Com.
modore (Mervine) has decided to take me to
the islands in the United States frigate indie
pendence, and that he will take possession of
both islands-it being within the scope of his
powers. 1 am waiting orders with instruc-
tons to be in readiness within twenty flour
hours notice, and in my next expect to advise
you OF my departure. The Commodore has
treated me with marked consideration and
kindness during all my business intercourse
with him, and has crowned the whole by irvi-
ting me to mess with him in his cabin on the
voyage. At first he intended to detail the
steamer Massachusetts, for this service, blu t
upon examining the subject he came to the con-
clusiCn that the magnitude of the interest in
Volved would not permit him to intrus. it to
second hands; consequently he goes in person
In the nag ship. Your Obedient servant,
IT, w. BENSON, Special Agent.
We remained at the Sandwich Islands from
the 1lth until the 18th February, touching at
Hilo, Lahaina, and Honolulu.
Upon leaving the island of Oahu, the Com
modore shaped his course direct for the wes-
tern island, observing which, / asked him for
what island he was sailing. He replied "To
the western island. l then said, "You
promised to go to the eaSternmost, and wish
to know why you have thus suddenly changed
your mind, after authorizing me so to inform
the Company" He offered no explanation,
further than I" he had concluded TO 90 west
hrst, as only one island was mentioned in his
dispatches, and he would proceed to the east
afterward." When within ten days sail Of
said island, he expressed his great regret
that he had not gone as l desired, as tie
current was much stronger than he had sup
posed, and it would take long time to 90
north and mako casting. We made the west
ern island on the noon Of March |, but owing
to remarkable current setting to the west,
drltted past it during the night, and were I'M
able to regain ii without proceeding north
e arrived again of the island on the 18th
March, to the windward, at q o'clock p. IN,
bringing the island close aboard, and stood off
and On until dusk. We were then enabled to
observe its appearance approaching it, as we
did within some six hundred feet. a sand
beach arose abruptly to some ten or twelve
feet above the level Of the sea, receding 10
some places from one to two hundred feet.
Within this, the land rose ten or eleven feet
higher, covered, to ell appearances, with
growth Of grass. interspersed with bushes
Myriads Of birds lowered over it, and toward
night the sky was lined with them returning
to their nests. A barrier-reef of coral sur.
rounds the island. No landing was made upon
the island, and only one attempt even to get
soundlngs, and that one within a small circle
with only twenty-five fathoms of line used
whereas ships often anchor with twice that
length of chain at the Chincha islands, and in
some other places in n much greater depth CT
water. We remained in the ne;ghborhOOd Of
the island, in all, four hours and fifty -four
minutes.
had reason to believe that would have
been allowed passage on the boat that went
In shore to find anchorage, but was not per-
mitted; failing in which l asked for boat to
land upon the Island, but the Commodore
replied. at was impossible to land, the
surf was so high, and would not send his men
with such risk"
then said, Il would man the boat with vol.
unteers and take the helm myself that was
accustomed to landing ON the surf, as it had
been business had followed" He answer
ed, " III let you have boat in the morning,
II we are here. This was equivalent to tell
ing me could not have q boat at all because
by daylight of the next day we were far away
to the westward of the island, and no further
attempt was made to reach it.
L respectfully submit, that had my request
been complied with, and my efforts seconded,
the island would have been landed upon, the
quantity of the guano thereon ascertained,