The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-01-07
Sl,5o per knnun, in Advance.
NUMBER 43.
DR.. Kane was born in Philadelpbia on

startedupon his active career of adventure
he was esteemed good classical scholar,
and a good chemist, mineralogist, astroai- n
omer, and surgeon. His frame even from
boyhood, was delicate, and with view OF <
Strengthening his constitution, he solicited
an appointment in the navy as surgeon.
IN / obtained it, and was attached to the
first American embassy to China This po-c
sIlioh gave him an opportunity to explore
the PHILIPPINE Islands, which he effected s.
mostly on foot He was the first man who :
descended into the caster of Tael lower
ed more than a hundred feet by bamboo
rope from the oyerhanging cliff, and,
iclambering down some seven hundred more
through the scori5e, he made o typograph-
.cal sketch Of the interior of this great
volcano, collected bottle of sulpherous
acid from the very mouth of the crater:
! and, although he was drawn up almost s
senseless, he brought with him q sketch
! of this hideous cavern and the specimens
which it tafforded. Before returning home
from this remote expedition he had as
Icended the Himalayas and triangular q
Greece on foot; he had visited Ceylon, ths.
! Upper Nile, and all the mythologic region
of Egypt; traversing the route and maxi
ing the acquaintance of the learned Lep-
slut, who was then prosecuting his arch.
geological researches. He also travefsed
Greece on foot, and returned to the Unit-
edaStates through Europe. Soon after
his arrival he. was again orderedson duty, !,
this time to the western coast of Africa.
He now attempted to visit the slave marts
of Whydah, but, having taken the African
fever, he was sent home in preearious
state of health. He recovered. however,
and we next find him a volunteer in the
Mexican war; HisadYentures in Mexico
proved him to befhe possessor Of lion-ss
like courage and most generous and no.
ble heart; but he fella victim to one Of
the fcyers of the country, and was very s,
near dying When he recovered and res
turned, he was employed in the Coast Sur-
vey Department, from which he was trans.
fferred hythe Steretary of. the Navy to the
post OF surgeon on the Grinnell Arctic 8
expedition. His history of that expedi-
ton gave him high position as an an-
thor. Not yet satisfied, however. Eesss
seafcefy gave himself timeto recover from
the hardsiips ef, that cruise before he :setys
on foot the second Griinell or Kane ex-
pedision, the results of which have been
pronounced by the highest European au-
thorities rs among the wonders Of the pres.
ent century. That DR. Kane has accom- &
plished tnuehafor the honor OF his country
is nowledged by all men of all parties;
and at the last session Of Congress the
House of Representatives passed resolu-
ton for the puTchaee of fifty thousand
copies of his valuable work, the Secretary
OF the Navy having investigated the whole S.
subject and suggested the spropriety Of
passing the resolution. That resolution
is now before The Senate, and we are pleas.
ed to learn that, in spite of their ideas Of S
Iretrenchment, many senators think DIR. &
kane's appeal a peculiar one, and that il Z
lis quite probable large majority of them ],
are in favor of the resolution. Contrary
to an opinion that weiiaye seen expressed,
we are glad to be able to state that very
mneh the largest proportion of5the profits
fof the work will so into the hands of the "A
explorer. When we remember the, char Z.
scter of his great discoveries, and the
| fame he has so justly acquired, and then
think of him, worn to q skeleton by dis.
ease contracted while heroically serving
ibis country yesterday. as il we're. quit. i
Ting his home 10 find health in England.
and to-day sailing, for a more genial
cline in the same puIsnit-we cannot but
believe that it would rejoice his heart and
do mnct towards restoring his health to ]
learn that the government Of his country 5,
shad rec ogpized his service in some4 sub.
Istantial manner, whereby the remainder Of
his life might he spent in pleasantness and
speaee. Numerous learned societies, says
a cotemporary and the whole body Of,
savans, with Humboldt at their head, and
all the commercial nations, With the En-.
glish admiralty in the van, have loudly
declared their generous appreciation Of
DR.. kane's lahors, and by flattering testfz
nlonials have sought to do honor. to the
gallant American explorers 81