BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 211 
to be laid down upon charts with the utmost accuracy, from data ob- 
tained from actual surveys. 
The localities and true position of the Aleutian Islands, which stretch 
nearly across the Northern Pacifie, and from the southern boundary of 
the Behring or Kamtchatka Sea, and the Kurile Islands, which extend 
from Japan to Kamtchatka, will be examined and defined; and the 
Sea of Okhotsk, the Islands of Japan, with the adjacent seas, as well as 
the Gulf of Tartary, and the approach and entrance of the large river 
Amour, will form a portion of the scientific labours of this extensive 
survey. All this labour, immense as it seems to be from this detail, is 
to be performed by this Expedition, and it is expected they will be 
thus occupied for a period of between four and five years. The officers 
are not novices in scientific surveys and examinations. Commander 
Ringgold, now at the head of the Expedition, was Commander of the 
Porpoise in the Exploring Expedition under Com. Wilkes; Lieut. H. 
Rolando commands the Vincennes, the flag-ship ; Captain Davis, now 
commanding the Porpoise, was also an officer in the Exploring Expedi- 
tion; Lieut. Stuart, the Secretary and Assistant Astronomer, was the 
Draughtsman of the exploring Expedition; Captain Rodgers, now com- 
manding the steamer John Hancock, is also advantageously known 
as a gentleman of fine scientific mind and attainments; [and we may 
add, that the chief Botanist, Mr. Charles Wright, is favourably known 
by the extent and value of his collections in California and New 
Mexico.] 
The expedition consists of five vessels, viz. the Vincennes, sloop of 
war, now converted into a bark, with an armament of four long 32- 
pounders, and four eight-inch shell guns, on the gun or main deck; 
three brass pivot howitzers on the spar-deck (these howitzers are 
mostly beautiful pieces, made at Washington City, expressly for this 
expedition), and one 12-pounder, a field-piece, to take on shore in 
ease of an emergency. The small arms consist of percussion-lock 
muskets for the marines, Sharp's rifles, loading at the breach, with — | 
Maynard's primers, for the use of seamen, and so arranged that | 
they will be slung at the back of each sailor while he is rowing in the 
boat, entirely out of his way, aud yet can be brought to his shoulder 
and discharged at a moments notice; and also the most improved re- 
volvers, together with cutlasses and boarding-pikes. The steamer John 
Hancock, of about 800 tons, is bark-rigged, with an armament consist» 
VOL, V, 2r 
