AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC. [From the National Intelligencer.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 809, 4 May 1853, Page 4

AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC. [From the National Intelligencer.]

In preparing the following article, we have thoogbt it due to the importance of the subject that the information which it contains should be full, as well as accurate, though not official. We have been at some pains, therefore to obtain all . the material points embraced in the plans and objects of the expedition. About the first of January next an expedition will depart from the port of Norfolk for the performance of important and arduous duties in the far off seas and islands of the Pacific Ocean. Its objects will be to survey portions of ihe China and Japan Seas, the route between Chiua and California, and the North Pacific Ocean in the region of Bebring's Straits. It may probably also ascend the Sea of Tartary, to make some examinations needed for the advantageous piosecutiou of commercial enterprises in those comparatively unknown waters. la the North, however, it will no doubt find a very wide field for its operations in making such investigation! as are desirable for the furtherance of our important interests in the whale fisheries. The Sandwich Islands will for a time be the principal rendezvous of the vessels of this expedition ; bat it is not unlikely that its arrival at Japan will be to timed as to make it available in facilitating the efforts of Commodore Perry, whose fleet will tarry a considerable time in ihe vicinity of those islands. This expedition will consist of — first, the sloop of- war Vincennes, Commander Cadwalader Ringgold, with Lieutenant F. A. Budd, and other officers not yet designated, and 175 men. This sloop it now at New York. Second, the sletm< propeller John Hancock, Lieutenant John Rodgers commanding, with sixty men. She is now on. dergoing thorough repair at Boston. Third, the brig Porpoise, Lieutenant H. B. Davis commanding, with sixty men. She is now at New York. Fourth, a tender, to be ctlled the Pilot, with about twenty men. We believe her commander is not yet chosen. The passed midshipmen, midshipmen, and many other officers are not yet designated. The most eminent medical skill in the service will be detailed, and scientific men in every department will be selected with reference to theii high reputation and eminent suitableness for the duties in view. The crews also will alone consis of young, healthy, vigorous, and efficient seamen; men capable of enduring all the requisite laboei and privations, and intelligent enough to appteciate the importance and salutary results of lh< mission upon which they are to be senr. In every particular this expedition will be thoroughly prepared he the work before it. Tbi vessels will all be peculiarly adapted for it in iheii construction and equipment. All the late am well established improvements in the machinery of steamers have been introduced into the Johr Hancock ; and the boats have been constructed ir the best manner, with special reference to thi contemplated surveys. In the selection of the necessary armaments efforts have successfully made to obtain the raosi perfect of every kind and such as will piove efficient in their appropriate uses. Thus, Sharp's breech- loading rifle, with Mayuard's primer, and Colt's improved revolver, will occupy their places among the small arms. In the scientific departments the same circumspection is manifested. The astronomical instruments are obtained through ihe National Observatory at Washington, and are of the verj best quality. Many of them, we understand, hive been made in this city under the supervision of Mr. Wundermau, and possess the advantage of all the improvements suggested iv the experience of the coast and topographical surveys, and of the naval service. We are assured, indeed, by those who are competent to jud^e oi their merits, that instruments so perfect and so well adapted to their uses cculd not elsewhere be obtained, either in tbi3 country or in Europe. Scientific and miscellaneous libraries, tor the use of both the officers and men, have also been provided : and thus the best means of preserving order and discipline, and of securing improvement, will constantly be at hand. The means of collecting information in natural history have been exceedingly well cared for, even to the most minute particular, insomuch that * complete photographic apparatus will form part of the implements supplied. In the stores of these vessels the same particular regard is had to all the possible wants of the journey. Clothing adapted to the many vicissitudes of the vsrying climates; food of the most wholesome and fitting kinds ; preventives and remedies for the scorbutic affections so generally attendant on long voyages — these and all other precautions suggested by experience and benevolence have been provided so liberally as to give every assurance of the safety and welfare of the several crews. We understand that this expedition will probably consume three years in the accomplishment of its varied and important work, and in returning to the Atlantic coast. In this time it will traverse the waters of many of the hitherto unfrequented regions bordering upon the Pacific oce*n. On the one side are the coasts of California and Oregon ; on the other, the regions of Ktmtschatka and the islands of Japan ; in the north, to a very high degree of latitude, the scenes of our adventurous whalers ; and in the south, the -countless islands of the ocean, so imperfectly known lo the civilised nations of the

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from Canton to San Francisco in forty-five dayi, bat it is thought that ocean steamers, which must necessarily touch at the Sandwich Islands, will accomplish it in sixteen or fourteen days. The passage from San Francisco to Panama vow occupies twelve days. When the railroad shall be completed the sixty miles transit across the Isthmus will b« made in three hours ; and thence to New York in eight days. But how long will the Isthmus be the way of transit from the Pacific to the Atlantic shores? Who can tell? The Western States of this Union are neither listless nor idle. They are alife to their interests and full of enterprise. They will soon connect their mercantile cities with the ports of the Pacific by railroads and telegraph wires. Before many years shall pass not only will the Canton news be transmitted by telegraph from San Francisco to St. Louis, and thence to the Atlantic coasts, within sixteen or eighteen days after the occurrence of the incidents at Canton, but chests of tea and bales of silks, by the same conveyance across the ocean, will be there opened within a few brief days thereafter ; and St. Louis, a few years ago an unimportant village amidst the wilds of the west, will be the city of commerce and divergence for the choicest products of the Celestial Empire. Aud sixteen days, it it confidently predicted by many, will bt a sufficient lapse of time to enable the merchant of New York to read the despatches of his correspondents at Canton. In view of such important probable facilities of intercourie with China, Japan, and the great intermediate depAfc of trade in the Sandwich Islands, how important is it that our national vessels should at once make oar flag a familiar object in every inlet to the great Pacific ocean 1 How necessary is it that enlightened and scientific navigators should lend the way through tb* mazy labyrinths of the clustering isles, and th clear and accurate charts should be made every channel to be ploughed by the keels of 01 ships and ocean steamers ? Congress has appropriated for this expediti< one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ; large sum, to be sure, but how small when cot trasted with the magnitude of the work to be a< complisbed ! Our Government derives from i import duties about fifty millions of dollars p annum, and this under perhaps the lowest pract cable tariff of duties. The commerce thai tbi sustains the Government asks but little in retur For the want of such information as it is i present purpose to obtain, a whale ship of fo thousand barrels of sperm oil was lost not lot ago; the Memnon, with a freight wor 250,000 dollars, perished in like manner ; ai more recently tbe Huntress was lost in Behring sea by running upon previously unascertaint shoals. These losses, all of which might ba< been prevented if faitbfnl charts had existed guide the navigators aright, exceeded in amoui five times the cost of the present important et terprise. How unerringly, then, does tru economy guide us to a liberal system of appn priatious for purposes so 6alutary tod so beoe ' ficial ! Yet, limited as our navy is, how pleasii it is to perceive the general acquiescence of ou Government and people in the devotion of in portant portions of it to purposes so wholi subservient to the pursuits of peace as to banh from our minds all other considerations than su< as relate to tbe business advantages to be pn ■noted. Such an exhibition goes further towai ennobling and elevating our conceptions of ma than the record of tbe most dazzlitg and sto gutnary conflicts. We are gratified in being enabled to state, i connexion with this subject, that the preparatio and equipment of this expedition has proved t the present able and accomplished Secretary ( tbe Navy a highly agree* ble task, and that 1 has manifested a prompt and commendable ap preciation of the project, and has evinced tb utmost liberality and naos>t resolute determinate to have everything executed and provided in a acceptable and efficient manner. The command of the expedition also devolve upon one whose courage, whose ability, who: past services, and whose humane feelings an generous and .elevated character afford an am pi guarantee that success will attend his efforts, ar that his labours will prove worthy the admiratic and gratitude of his countrymen.