United States Explorifig Expedition. 23 



It is gratifying to learn that the country will soon be put 

 in possession of the facts collected. Thus far those engaged 

 in it have alone been benefited. They have collected infor- 

 mation that vi^ill be invaluable to them as men of intelligence 

 and members of society. It remains for them to give this 

 information to the country, that the people who have borne 

 the expense may also partake of the profits. The affairs of 

 the expedition are in the hands of the Library Committee of 

 Congress, and, under their direction, Captain Wilkes has been 

 put in charge of the history of the voyage, the charts, and 

 philosophical observations, and the other departments of 

 science are placed in the hands of those that had charge of 

 them during the voyage. Each will prepare his own reports, 

 reap his own honours, and be held responsible for his own 

 facts. The extent of the work cannot be definitely stated : 

 the plates will form several folio volumes in the style of the 

 voyage of the Astrolabe. 



As the country is much interested to know what has been 

 done by the expedition, it is proposed to give, in as brief a 

 manner as possible, some idea of the material on hand for 

 publication, and the general character and extent of the col- 

 lections. Our acquaintance with the gentlemen of the ex- 

 pedition enables us to state many particulars which have not 

 yet appeared in print, the accuracy of which may be relied on. 



We prelude our remarks, by giving the track of the vessels 

 as laid down in Captain Wilkes's synopsis of the cruise. 



On August 19, 1838, the vessels left the Capes of the Chesa- 

 peake, and sailed for Rio Janeiro, making short calls at Madeira 

 and the Cape Verds. From Rio, on the 6th January following 

 they proceeded to Rio Negro, on the northern confines of 

 Patagonia, and thence to Nassau Bay, in Terra del Fuego, 

 just west of Cape Horn. From this place, the*Peacock, Por- 

 poise, and the two schooners, made cruizes in different direc- 

 tions towards the pole ; but the season was too far advanced 

 for much success, as it was already February 24th before they 

 sailed. The schooner Flying Fish, notwithstanding, reached 

 latitude 70" 14' S., nearly the highest attained by Cook, and 

 not far from the same longitude. The ship Relief was ordered 

 to enter a southern channel opening into the Straits of Ma- 

 gellan, but met with constant gales, and barely escaped being 



