Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-03-05
CHE polpnesian.
FOREIGN NEW s.

By the arrival of the clipper ship Rambler, Cap
tain Lathrop, in l3 days from San Francisco we
have received Atlantic dates to Jan. %, European
do to Jan. 5.
We make the following selections.
United States.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 1859.
The administration is fully assured and salts
fed that the past differences with European Pow
ers regarding Central America are In the way of
being settled honorably and usefully to the coun-
try, and if present negotiations not interrupted
by flibusters revolutions q few months will
place us in the position we desire. 10 this end,
it is deemed wise not to disturb the Clayton Bull
wer treaty at present. The administration cannot
make public the nature of these negotiations while
pending, but it is fully satisfied Of its position.
The House Committee Foreign Affairs will,
at their meeting tomorrow, act definitely upon the
question of placing in the hands of the President
sum sufficient to negotiate for the purchase of
Cuba. They will probably agree upon seven mil
lion dollars for that purpose.
The Senate went into executive session to-day
and confirmed large number Of appointments.
They confirmed Townsend Harris as Resident Min
lister to japan a special messenger will leave
here tomorrow for the purpose Of carrying out
important dispatches to Mr.. Harris, and also his
commission Minister.
Most important action took place in Washing
ton on Saturday in relation to the question OF the
purchase of Cuba. A caucus of the democratic
Senators was held, and it determined that the
Committee on Foreign Relations sh- uld report u
bill similar to that presented by Mr. Slidell few
days since, authorizing the President to purchase
Cuba aud placing thirty millions of dollars at his
disposal toward that object. 1t was agreed that
the democratic Senators might vote they choose
when the bill should be brought up. This was
for the purpose OF accommodating the distractions
of several Southern Senators, all the Northern
democrats would vote for it. The House Commit
tee on Foreign Relations have also resolved to
bring in a similar bill, and a lively discussion is
expected when it is brought up.
The resolution disappearing of the action of
Com. Pauiding IN reference To the W alker expedi
tion called up from last session and discussed.
substitute was offered, approving of Com. Pauld
ing s action, which was adopted in Committee Of
the whole.
1t is reported that Buenos Ayres has entered
into a secret treaty with the United States, among
the principal clauses Of which is the following
" BuenOs Ayres is to serve the United States
as deposit in of war with Paraguay she
will allow the troops of the United States q free
transit, both by land and water and she will lend
her ally every aid in her power to conquer Para
quay"
a Brazilian feet was about being dispatched
from Rio Janeiro to the waters Of Parana to OBJ
serve the movements of the United States feet.
PRoPosED EXPEDITION TO THE OPEN Polar
SEA.-At a meeting of the American Geographical
and Statistical Society, held the 18th Jan. in New
York, DR.. Hayes, q fellow voyager Of DIR. Kane,
proposed an expedition for which he asks aid OF
vessel of a hundred tons and twelve sailors, to be
ready in 1860, TO follow up the American discov-
cries
He would proceed up Baffin's Bay and along
4 Tor 10
and then go into winter quarters. He would then
90 still further to the north, to establish depots on
the route, after which the journey should be per-
formed in a boat mounted on sledges to the open
sea. He expected that this would be about lati
tude 81, distance of six hundred miles from the
pole. The hummock ice which impeded the move
ments of DR.. Kane, did not exist on the western
side of Smith Strait toward Grnnell Land hence
he believed that he could reach that point and that
their Journey northward by boats would be easy.
In favorable season 1t was quite possible that
vessel might pass above Cape Frazer into Kennedy
Channel He thoug ht that vessels could come to
that Cape annually, and that the product of whale
fisheries could be transported from Kennedy Chan
mel over the ice-belt to that point. Of the abun-
dance of whales in the open sea there was not
doubt.
In confirmation of his views the following letter
was read from Professor A gassiz, dated Cambridge,
Dec. g. and addressed to DR.. John l.. Leconte,
Philadelphia
| beg to add word with regard TO DR.. Hayes's
expedition. | consider ii highly important, not
only in a scientific point of view, but particularly
so for the interest of the whale fisheries. The or
ganization of these huge inhabitants of the ocean
seems to me to furnish the most direct proof that
there is open sea In the Arctlcs. The whales
being warm blooded, air-breathing animals, must
come to the surface TO breathe. They cannot live
without it. Now it IS well known that during the
49,, hat tn fh0
south of the ice-belt of the Arctic seas. They re-
treat northward during the cold season, and If the
whole expanse of that Arctic was covered with
ice, they would necessarily perish during the long
winter do not know a more direct evidence of
the presence of extensive open water in the north
regions of the globe, than the mode OF life
of the whale. and the discovery of passage into
that open water, which would render whale fishing
possible during the winter, would be one of the
most important results for the improvement Of
whale fishing. The argument may not strike for
chilly who is not acquainted with the structure
of the whale, but to physologlst it must be ire
sistible
The Society passed resolution of cooperation
with DR.. Hayes.
TONNAGE OF THE UNITED STATEs.-The general
statement of the tonnage of the United States for
the year ending June 80, 1858, shows that there
were built, enrolled, registered and licensed during
the year, steam and sailing vessels to the tonnage
Other vessels added to registered tonnage
Together. III 800
And sold to foreigners SSosS
Corrections IN previous returns .....S7 .S7iS4-l62 s35
Increase of the -iOss65
against 40 iO,s4S at the close of 1857, follows
r., ,o.,f,a ,-.ds ~ Q s6T sos