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From New York city to Albany, one mail in six will be delayed a day; to Buffalo, four mails in summer, and five in winter, out of six, will each be delayed a day.

Between Wheeling and this city, there will be a delay of one day each, to two mails out of six; to Zanesville, three; and four to Cincinnati and Louisville. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, two mails out of six will each be delayed one day,

The mails from this city to New Orleans will be delayed two mails out of three, each three days, and the third mail two days.

It may be difficult at first to comprehend the above delays; but they have been ascertained, by arranging a schedule of six weekly mails. The Sabbath, it must be recollected, will occur at different points on each route, and constantly vary, in the progress of mails, the places of detention.

In your third inquiry, you ask "Whether a discontinuance of the present practice of distributing letters, &c. from the several post offices on the Sabbath, or first day of the week, would tend to impair the revenue of the Department; and, if so, to what probable amount?" It is believed that the revenue of the Department would not be lessened to any considerable amount, if no letters or newspapers, &c. were delivered at the different post offices on the Sabbath.

By the fourth inquiry, I am requested to state " Whether a change of the present mode of daily conveyance and distribution of mails would affect the commercial interests of the country; and, if so, in what manner?"

It has been considered of great importance to the commercial and agricultural interests of the country, to convey through the mails, into every part of the Union, speedy intelligence of the state of the market at home and in foreign countries. To accomplish this desirable object, and afford the utmost facilities to all commercial transactions, great increase of expedition has been given to the mails, within a few years, on all the important lines of communication.

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for the conveyance of passengers, were suspended on the Sabbath, the discontinuance of the mail on that day would affect less seriously the commercial and other interests of the country.

A daily mail has been in operation on some routes almost ever since the organization of this Department, under the Federal Government. Frequent ineffectual applications have been made to Congress to discontinue this mail. It has been viewed, by many persons of great intelligence and piety, as an evil; but no provision for relief has been adopted.

The result of these applications has given a sanction to the policy of the Department, which I have considered as controlling any discretion the Postmaster General might be inclined to exercise on the subject. He cannot act on the moral principle, unless he apply it to every daily mail in the Union. This would involve a responsibility which no individual can exercise with impunity; and would be in opposition to the implied sanction of the National Legislature.

It has been, however, the practice of the Department, on each route where a daily mail is not established, so to regulate the conveyance, where practicable, as to make the Sabbath a day of rest.

By the eleventh section of the Post Office law, every postmaster is required, "at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver on demand any letter, paper, or packet, to the person entitled or authorized to receive the same."

Before this law was enacted, no general instructions were given by the Department to deliver letters on the Sabbath; and if Congress, in pursuance of the strong expression made on this subject, shall think proper to repeal this section, I shall consider it to be my duty to rescind the instruction which has been given under it. At present a postmaster is only required to keep his office open one hour on the Sabbath, for the delivery of letters and news-. papers.

It is believed that the delivery of letters has been considered as more likely to interrupt religious worship on the Sabbath, than the conveyance of the mail. The passage of the mail stage through a villiage or town on Sunday, if postmasters were not required to distribute letters and newspapers, would excite as little attention as that of any other vehicle.

Some years since, on a sudden rise in the price of cotton, private expresses were despatched to the South, from New York and other places, in advance of the mail, and immense speculations were made in the purchase of that article. At that time, mail contractors were not prohibited from forwarding such expresses; and having relays of horses on every route, they were frequently employed in this service, at a high rate of compensation. Since that time the contracts have been changed, so as to subject any contractor to a forfeiture of his contract, if he engage, either directly or indirectly, in the transmission of commercial information, with a view to speculation, more rapidly Report on the Polar Expedition; read in the Senate,

than the mail.

This provision, with the increased expedition which has been given, has rendered it extremely difficult, if not impracticable, for expresses, on the more important routes, to travel more rapidly than the mail is conveyed.

An attempt was recently made to send an express between New York and Philadelphia, in advance of the mail, but the enterprising contractor on that route delivered it at the latter place before the express arrived. On this line the mail is transported twelve miles an hour, when necessary to prevent a failure, or any other exigency require it. A suspension of the mail on the Sabbath would subject it to the delays before stated, and enable persons in our large cities, or elsewhere, on the receipt of intelligence of a change in the price of our great staples, to send expresses, without much effort, and speculate on the holders of such property.

In some of our large cities a failure of the mail, or the delay of a few hours in its delivery, has been of serious consequence to persons extensively engaged in commercial operations.

If, as before suggested, private expresses, and all stages

With great respect, I am, your obedient servant. JOHN MCLEAN. Hon. SAMUEL MCKEAN,

Chairman Com. Post Office and Post Roads.

February 16, 1829.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, 13th February, 1829. SIR: I have had the honor to receive from you the resolution of the Senate, of the 5th February, 1829, calling for a detailed statement of the expenses incurred in fitting out and preparing an expedition for exploring the Pacific Ocean and South Seas, together with the additional amounts which will be necessary to cover all the expenses of such an expedition and also, a detailed statement, showing the several amounts transferred from the different heads of appropriation, for the support of the navy, to this object; and the authority by which such transfers have been made, and respectfully present to you the following report, which contains the information called for, so far as it can be furInished by this Department.

The resolution embraces three objects:

1. The expences which have been incurred in fitting out and preparing the expedition.

2. The additional amounts which will cover the future expenses of the expedition.

20th CONG. 2d SESS.]

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Report on the Polar Expedition.

3. The transfer from the different heads of appropriation for the support of the navy for this object, and the authority by which they have been made.

Previous to the date of the resolution, viz: on the 24th of January, 1829, a letter relating to this subject was received from the chairman of the Naval Committee of the Senate, and on the 29th of January, an answer was transmitted to him. Copies of these letters, marked A and B, are annexed, as a part of this report. They contain a portion of the information called for, and are necessary to explain certain parts of it.

1. Of the expenses incurred.

[SENATE.

236.) The Peacock was one of the three. It was intended, as soon as her repairs would permit, to send her on a cruising station. No station was designated at that time, nor any special service pointed out for her. Without the resolution of the House, the Department was authorized, unper this law, to prepare and put her in commission, and would have so done by ordering her a full complement of officers, enlisting for her a full crew, and preparing provisions, stores, armament, &c. The only effect of the resolution, so far as the Peacock is concerned, was to change her destination from one cruise to another, and that without any additional expense on these points. For this change, the resolution was regarded as very ample autho

Paper C, hereunto annexed, is a report from the Commissioners of the Navy, of the money expended in the re-rity. pairs of the Peacock. This report was called for, before It may be added, that the delay in preparing the expethe letter to the chairman was written, but was not receiv-dition, since her repairs were completed, has thus far occa→ ed until the 7th instant. It was impracticable, before that day, for the commissioners to procure the accounts from New York to enable them to answer the call.

By this paper C, the expenses of repairing the Peacock are stated at sixty-four thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine dollars and fifty-five cents. Deducting the sum of four thousand and eight dollars, mentioned by the commissioners, on account of the guns and gun carriages, the actual cost will be sixty thousand seven hundred and twenty-one dollars and fifty-five cents. It will also be perceied that the only expenditure, in addition to the ordinary repairs of the vessel, has been in making a temporary spar deck. This was designed to add much comfort to the accommodation, and has cost one thousand nine hundred and forty-three dollars twenty-one cents, which is the only sum that can be justly charged to the expedition.

The resolution of the House of Representatives was passed on the 21st May last, and directed to one of our small public vessels "to be sent to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas," &c. The Peacock was selected for this object because it came within the description of the resolution, and was better fitted for that service than any other vessel in the navy. The schooners, from their size and construction, were not adapted to it. The surveys could not have been performed in them. The comfort of those sent would have been sacrificed, and their lives hazarded, if one of them had been selected. The new sloops of war are too large, and in other respects unfit; and they would have been more expensive.

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At the time of the passage of this resolution of the House, and also of the passage of the appropriation law for the support of the navy for the year 1828, the Peacock lay in ordinary at New York, and was embraced in the estimates for the year, both for repairs, and as a vessel in commission for cruising. In the annual report from this Department, dated 1st December, 1827, she was described in the following words: "Will require new sails and considerable repairs in her hull, and standing and running rigging." (Report of Commissioners, A, page 254.) In the estimate, and in the appropriation bill, there was an item including the repairs, in the following words: For repairs of vessels in ordinary, and for wear and tear of vessels in commission, four hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars." The repairs of this vessel were thus authorized by Congress, and would have been made without reference to the expedition. When she was selected for it, they were ordered to be completed with all practical dispatch, that she might be ready at the proper time to enter on the enterprise. The expense of them has been, or will be charged to, and paid out of, the sum of four hundred and seventy five thousand dollars before mentioned, as provided by Congress for these and other repairs.

Annexed to the same report of 1st December, 1827, there was an estimate for the vessels in commission during the year 1828. In this estimate, eight sloops of war, of the first class, and three sloops of war of the second class, are provided for. (Report of Commissioners, B, page

sioned some saving of expense, which would have been incurred if the seamen had been promptly enlisted, and the vessel sent on other service. It was the purpose of the Department to be cautious in enlisting those who should be fitted by character and experience for such an enterprise, and not to create an unnecessary waste of money by procuring and paying them until their services should be required.

A part of them only are yet enlisted; but officers are now employed at the proper places, and the whole will probably be enlisted in a few days.

In ordering the officers, care was taken to select such as were believed to be good seamen and navigators, but also distinguished for enterprise and science. The design was to make the expedition, (whatever might be the number of vessels sent) as far as practicable, redound to the honor of our navy. To accomplish this design it was necessary that the officers should not only be able to navigate the vessel, but to superintend and execute the surveys and examinations of the islands, harbors, &c., as directed by the resolution of the House, and partake in all the scientific researches. It is believed that those selected will be competent to do this, and the expedition will be arranged with that view; so that, by the faithful and skilful discharge of their duties, their reputation, individually and collectively, will be promoted.

These officers have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness for this service, but no additional expense has thereby been created. They receive now, precisely what they received before the orders were given, and what they would have continued to receive if these orders had not been given.

The preceding remarks, respecting the Peacock and her officers and seamen, with the explanations contained in the letter to the chairman, (B) exhibit the action of the Department, under the resolution of the House, and explain statements D and E, annexed to this report. They are deemed necessary, to show that there is no omission in those statements, of the expense incurred on these points. If the Peacock, from any cause, should not go on the expedition, she will be ready, under the requirements of law, and the ordinary arrangements of the service, to sail on any other cruise, without extra expenditures

The second item in paper D is the cost of employing an agent to obtain information of the present state of knowledge, respecting the objects to be examined. This information could only be procured from those concerned in the navigation of the Pacific and South Seas, (for none others possessed it) and principally from conversations, log books, and journals. The agent was engaged for several weeks, and allowing to him, for his time, expenses, and labor. what is usually paid to persons examining land offices, and performing other duties of a like kind, which are temporary in their nature. he was entitled to receive one thousand one hundred and sixteen dollars. The service performed by him, required not less intelligence, zeal, and industry, than those usually entrusted to agents, who

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receive per diem compensations. His duties were zealously and skilfully discharged; his expenses in procuring assistance, obtaining copies of journals, condensing and arranging the result of his inquiries, were large, and his report embodies a mass of information, valuable to the Department, and indispensable to the prompt and safe conduct of the expedition. The commanding officer, though highly intelligent and well informed, could not have acquired this knowledge in any mode except that which was pursued; and he could not have conducted the expedition as profitably without as with it. A copy of a part of the report will be given to him before he sails; and by apprising him of the probable, but not well ascertained situation of about two hundred islands and reefs, which he could learn neither from books nor charts, will assist in guiding his movements, and apprise him of many dangers for which he will be prepared. It will enable him to be more expeditious in his operations, and to accomplish much more within a given period. It is believed that the employment of this agent was both economical and prudent, and will shorten the labors of the expedition, and be one means of guarding it against the hazards which it has to encounter. If it shall be the will of Congress, that the expedition shall not sail, the information in this report ought to be published for the benefit of our sea-faring people, who may thereby be aided in avoiding perils, in which so great an amount of property and human life has perished.

The compensation to the agent has been taken from the item of appropriation of five thousand dollars, in the law of 19th March, 1828, "for contingent expenses for objects not herein before enumerated." The preceding item in that bill, enumerates the ordinary contingent and uncertain expenses which occur in the naval service. This item has always been understood as intended to provide for those contingencies which do not ordinarily occur, and for those services which it is the duty of the Department to direct, and which are not embraced in the enumeration. Under the resolution of the House, this agency was believed to be peculiarly of this character; and no hesitation was felt in directing payment for it out of that fund.

A copy of the letter of appointment to the agent, Mr. Reynolds, is added, paper F. His account has been settled since the letter to the chairman (B) was written, and amounts to something more than was then estimated. The next item in paper D is an estimate of the cost of the mathematical and astronomical instruments. It is a mere estimate, which, in many cases, is a mere guess, and may be below the actual amount. A statement has been called for, from the officer entrusted with the purchase and preparation of them, and when it is received, a list in detail of the instruments and their prices, shall be laid before you. It is not supposed necessary to detain this report for that purpose.

The appropriation law, before referred to, provided for the purchase of "books, maps, charts, nautical and mathematical instruments, chronometers, models, and drawings," and appropriated, for these and other enumerated objects, two hundred and forty thousand dollars for the year 1828. Purchases for all the vessels in commission, and for the shore stations, are almost daily made of such articles, under the authority of this law In giving the orders for the purchase of these instruments, the Department regarded the Peacock as a vessel in commission, by express sanction of law; the resolution of the House, as an instruction where it should be employed; and the appropriation for instruments, as authority to provide such as might be required by the service which it had to perform. Lists of books, charts, and maps, have also been prepared, and directions given to find and be ready to purchase them, when they should be called for. They are not numerous, nor very costly. Most of those which will be necessary on the expedition have before been pur

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chased and placed at the navy yards, for the use of our vessels in commission. It is believed that no expense has yet been incurred on this point.

It may be proper to add, that the instruments, charts, books, and maps, which have been, or will be purchased, are not useful for this expedition alone, but are valuable and necessary for the service generally. They would probably, within a short time, have been purchased for, and used in, the various operations of the navy, if the expedition had not been contemplated. The public treasury will suffer no loss by them.

The letter to the chairman (B) states that orders have been given to prepare certain provisions suited to the nature of the service. It is not known that any expense has yet beeen incurred for them, nor can I furnish a detailed statement of what they will cost. In paper E there is an estimate for them among the items of expense yet to be incurred. They are regarded as a part of the provisions of the vessel on her cruise, and the authority for providing them is found in the fact before stated, that the Peacock is a vessel in commission, which the House of Represen tatives desired should be sent on a special service; and, that they form a necessary part of the provisions of the officers and men on that service.

No other expenditure is recollected. Paper D is, therefore, presented to you, as a statement, in detail of all the expenses which has been incurred; and, although much labor has been performed at the Department, and many arrangements made preparatory to the sailing of the expedition, yet no act has been done, nor has any contract been entered into, which can create an addition to it, if Congress should reverse the decision of the House of Representatives, and prohibit the Department from de spatching the Peacock on this particular service.

On the preceding statement and explanations, I have to report to you, that no expense has been incurred which was not fully authorized by law.

2. Of the "additional amounts which will be necessary to cover all the expenses of the expedition. Paper B, hereto annexed, is an estimate of the expenses of fitting out the Peacock alone.

1

Paper G an estimate of the expense of fitting out two vessels and a store ship.

These estimates are made in the form, because the expense of preparing and sending out the expedition has, heretofore, been the subject of inquiry; and that on which the opinion of the Department was expressed to the committee of the House of Representatives, who originally reported the bill, for which object the Department has supposed the appropriation was designed, and for it the sum, in the bill, is still believed to be sufficient, even in the enlarged form which is recommended in the letter to the chairman (B).

It is not easy to make an estimate which may be depended on, of the final cost of the expedition. One is attempted, however, in papers H, I, K. They show the annual expense of supporting each of the vessels, with the annual cost of the persons, other than naval officers, who may be employed. On the latter point, the estimate is believed to be large, as it is also for contingencies.

It will be perceived that the annual expense of supporting the Peacock is not included in papers E and G. It is omitted, because that vessel has been, for several years, embraced in the estimates and appropriations, as one of the vessels in commission, and employed at sea. It is also in those of the present year; and unless a change of legislative opinion takes place, will be in those of subsequent years. But, in order that this expense may be added, if it be deemed proper to do so, it is furnished in paper I.

The statements in paper K exhibibit the cost of the expedition for two years, if it be regulated by the resolution of the House; and, also, what it will cost, in the form recommended in the letter to the chairman (B). It is not

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perceived how, under correct and economical management and control, the Peacock, for two years, with every necessary and proper outfit, both material and personal, and with full allowance for wear and tear, books, instruments, &c. &c., can cost more than one hundred and eight thousand five hundred and seven dollars and twenty-one cents; nor how the three vessels, under like management, and with equal preparation, can exceed two hundred and four thousand three hundred and forty-four dollars and seventy-one cents. Whether the Peacock on this service, can render more essential benefits to our interests, than if employed elsewhere, is a question not embraced by the resolution which you have transmitted. It may be proper, however, to remark, that if the view taken at the Department be correct, the present aspect of our relations and interests, in all places where our vessels in commission are cruising, seems to justify the confident belief that she cannot be more useful any where than she would be on this expedition. There has not been a time at which she could be better withdrawn from her ordinary duties, and devoted to an enterprize, the first suggestion of which is, I believe, to be found in the recommendation in your message to Congress, on the 6th December, 1825, and which has been an object of constant and anxious solicitude, both with the Executive and a large part of the nation, since that period.

For some of the reasons which influenced the Department to recommend an enlargement of the expedition, the expense of which is exhibited in statement No. 3 of paper K, I respectfully refer to the annual report of 24th November 1828, and to the letter of the chairman, (B.)

[SENATE.

charts and draughts which are called for by the resolution of the House, and the citizens who are intended to aid in this labor will be subject to his and their direction. The commercial agent, astronomer, and naturalist, will perform their appropriate duties, without interference with those of others, and the commanding officer will be too discreet to interfere injuriously with them. The division of labor will expedite and perfect whatever is done, while a complication of duties, in any one man, would create confusion, and render failure inevitable. In the reports to the Government, the labors of each, and the merits of each, will be manifested.

Much, almost every thing, will depend on the temper of the persons employed, and on each remaining within his proper sphere; and it is hoped the selections will be such as to ensure concord, and especially that no arrangement of duties will be made, and no orders given, which will tend to lessen the just pride and the deserved honor of the navy, in which every patriot feels a deep and enduring interest.

3d. Of the" amounts transferred from different heads of appropriation, and the authority therefor."

There is but one authority under our laws, which can direct a transfer from one appropriation to another; and that is the President of the United States. The Secretary of the Navy has requested from him no transfer on this subject-none has been granted by him, and none has been made. All the expenditures have taken place in the manner explained in this report, under the express sanction of the law; and if error has been committed, it has resulted from a misconstruction of its meaning-a misconstruction which has prevailed in the Department for many years.

This report, (with the annexed papers,) which has been delayed since Monday last, by severe indisposition, is now respectfully submitted to your consideration. Very respectfully, &c.

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD. To the PRESIDENT of the United States.

A.

SENATE CHAMBER,
22d January, 1829.

Two vessels seem indispensable, to avoid delay and ensure safety and success. The scientific persons mentioned, are alike indispensable, if the profitable results are desired, in the branches of science to which their attention will be directed. It is no reproach to our naval officers to affirm, that they cannot, in those branches, make the investigations and furnish the lights, which would do most credit to the enterprise. They are not profound astronomers, nor are they skilful naturalists. Their employments forbid that they should be either. In their own profession, and in what relates essentially to the discharge of its duties, they neither now have, nor have they ever had, their superiors. And the expedition may be so arranged, as to give to those of them who partake in it, all the duties which they can desire, and all that have ever been satisfactorily performed by men of their profession; and, at the same time, to dispose of the scientific corps in such manner, that their duties may be discharged, and neither deprive the other of their appropriate credit. The Department is aware of the jealousies on this subject What expense has been incurred, under the direction which have existed in expeditions fitted out by other gov- of the Navy Department, in preparing the expedition, ernments, and of the unpleasant consequences-conseand what additional amount will be necessary to carry quences against which this ought to be guarded. The the contemplated object into effect? Under this head, the obvious and inevitable effects of assigning to naval officers, Committee desire to have a statement of the several duties which they are not qualified to perform, has been, amounts expended on the different objects connected with and must forever continue to be, a failure in useful results the contemplated expedition, such as the building and preThe uniform history of expeditions in all nations, esta-paration of the ship to be employed; the number, rank, blishes this fact; while too much has been sought for them, all has been lost to them. There is, however, no real difficulty on this subject, nor will any be found in this expedition.

The commanding officer will direct and control the movements of all under his command and in his vessel: to him will the reports of their labors be made; and through him will the results be known to the Government and nation. He will have a responsibility sufficiently weighty, and claims on his intelligence, which will prevent his attention to the more minute inquiries on each subject; but which, if ably answered, will ensure him all of honor and reputation which can be acquired for his rank and station, in such an enterprise. The inferior officers will be directed by him to superintend the surveys, and make the

SIR: By direction of the Naval Committee of the Senate, to whom was, referred your report of the 27th November last, and also a bill from the House of Representatives, "to provide for an exploring expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas," I have to ask for information on the following points, viz:

and compensation, of the officers and agents, who have been, or are intended to be, employed in the expedition, with the names of such as may not belong to the navy, and the duty which they are severally expected to perform.

In deciding on the expediency of the contemplated expedition, it seems to the Committee necessary that they should be informed of its precise objects. The Committee, therefore, request the views of the Department relative to the subject. It is desirable to know, whether it is in the contemplation of the Navy Department merely to send out surveyors, or other scientific persons, to examine any known "coasts, islands, harbors, shoals, and reefs, in order to ascertain their true situation and description," or whether "the Pacific Ocean and South Seas" are to be "explored" with a view to the discovery of un

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known regions? And, in either case, the Committee would be glad to learn the views of the Department as to the particular object to which the expedition is, in the first instance, to be directed; and whether the contemplated object will probably be attained in the course of a single expedition? Any information it may be in the power of the Department to afford on these points, or in any other connected with the subject, will be acceptable. I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, ROBERT Y. HAYNE, Chairman.

Hon. S. L. SOUTHARD,

Secretary of the Navy.

B.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, January 29, 1829. SIR: It is probably the simplest mode in which I can answer the inquiries in your letter of the 22d instant to

state

1. The views of the Department in relation to the exploring expedition.

2. What has been done to prepare for the execution of it. 3. The expense which has been incurred.

4. The expense which will probably be incurred.

5. The time which will be required to accomplish the objects proposed.

These five points, it is believed, will embrace answers to all your inquiries.

First. The "precise object of the expedition is pointed out by the resolution of the House of Representatives of 21st May, 1828, and is described in the following words: "to examine the coasts, islands, harbors, and reefs, in those seas, and to ascertain their true situation and description." This has always been regarded by the Department as the object to which all its orders and preparations were to be directed, and to which they have been uniformly and steadily directed. The resolution of the House was regarded, both as the command which was to be obeyed, and the authority which would justify the expenditure of the money which might be found necessary to comply with its terms.

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In executing the resolution, if no further direction should be given by Congress, and no appropriation made, it was the intention of the Department to send out one vessel only, (the Peacock) which is one of the smallest sloops of war, with proper instructions to make the examinations called for. In this vessel would be sent skilful naval officers, with an astronomer, selected either from among the officers or among the citizens, with proper books and instruments, to fix, by accurate observation, the true situation of the islands, &c to be examined The naval officers would be directed to perform, in the best manner in their power, the surveys, draughts, &c. which might be required.

In the instructions, directions would be given to procure information of the present state of our commerce, the difficulties and dangers to which it is subjected, with the best means of protecting and enlarging it; and any other information which might fall in their way, and which would be profitable to the nation.

These would necessarily limit the duties to be performed in a single vessel, but in performing these there would be great delay and hazard, and the result would be much less satisfactory than is to be desired. To avoid these necessary and inevitable consequences of sending a single vessel, the Department extended its "views" farther, and desiring to make the expedition useful as well as safe to those engaged in it, an anxiety was felt that Congress should, by sufficient appropriations, permit the following plan to be adopted.

That a smaller, but well appointed, vessel should be added to the Peacock, for the purposes of the examination, and a provision ship to carry provisions, &c. to them, and enable them to prosecute their labors at all times, and without the interruption which would arise from leaving their employment to seek them; that the following persons should be added to the naval officers:

1. A person to examine and report upon the present state of our commerce, and the means of its extension and improvement in that region.

2. An astronomer, whose observations should not only fix accurately the positions of all places examined, but who should bring home invaluable results of observations and experiments, in every thing connected with his branch of science, and present them in such form as would de

In making the examinations required by the resolution, it will necessarily happen that the coasts, islands, &c. both "known" and "unknown," will fall under observation, and the orders would be to examine both, as thoroughly as cir-mand the assent of scientific men every where. To him cumstances would permit. the naval officers would be assistants, and furnish all necessary aid.

Our best charts and geographical works are extremely defective as to that region of the globe. Very little is accurately known about it. Very few islands, compared with the whole number which exist there, appear upon the charts, and the locations of the few which do appear, are in most instances incorrect.

It is well understood, from the experience of those of our citizens who are engaged in whaling and other pursuits in the Pacific, that there are, probably, in the southern portion of it, not less than two hundred islands, reefs, and shoals, which do not appear upon any chart. The situation of these is not known to many, and, perhaps, with strict accuracy, as to latitude and longitude, to none. Hence, all our vessels which sail there, sail in constant and imminent peril, and an immense destruction of lives and property is the consequence. To discover the true "situation and description of all these, as well as those better known," is supposed to have been the object of the resolution.

It is not necessary, in answer to an inquiry from the Naval Committee of the Senate, to detail the extent of our commercial interests in the Pacific, the manner in which they are prosecuted, nor their dangers and losses. To protect and promote them, by acquiring correct information, which would render their prosecution more safe, and their extension more easy, would be the effect of executing skilfully the purpose of the resolution.

3. A naturalist, with one or two assistants, and one or two good draughtsmen and surveyors. These five or six persons would be all that would be required, in addition to the officers of the vessels.

Should it be the will of Congress to pass an appropriation bill for this object, and the expedition should be fitted out in a proper manner, no doubt is entertained that great good would result to our commerce, and the expedition be found to yield, in the end, a most profitable return to the nation, for the expenditure made. While seeking this resuit, it could not fail to be both gratifying and useful to make an extensive addition to our knowledge of the globe we inhabit; and to other useful and valuable branches of science, an addition to our stock of information, acquired almost without cost, and certainly without the slightest neglect of our commercial interests. The instructions would be so guarded as to secure attention, in the first place, to the objects of the resolution, and other matters be made subservient to them.

I do not know whether your inquiry, as to the intention to attempt a "discovery of unknown regions," may be designed to call for an expression of the views of the Department in reference to sending the expedition as far as practicable towards the Pole. On that point it may be answered, that the examination both of the known and unknown islands, &c., will be, in part, in high southern

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