324 ADMIRAL CHARLES WILKES. 



dition, which sailed from Norfolk, August 19 of that year, and returned 

 to the United States, June 10, 1842. Many valuable contributions 

 to science, geography, and general physics resulted from this expedi- 

 tion. The Antai'ctic Continent was discovered Jan. 19, 1840 ; and 

 several islands, reefs, and shoals, before unknown, were placed on the 

 charts. In 1861, he relieved Commodore Dornin on the coast of 

 Africa, and took command of the " San Jacinto ; " and with her capt- 

 ured the Rebel commissioners. Mason and Slidell, who were found on 

 board of the British mail-steamer " Trent." In July, 1862, he took 

 command of the James River flotilla, — a large number of vessels, —^ 

 and served on that station until the Federal troops were removed from 

 Harrison Landing, September of the same year. He was immediately 

 ordered to the command of the flying squadron, and sailed without de- 

 lay for the West Indies, where his squadron did valuable service, capt- 

 uring many vessels, until June, 1863, when he was ordered home. 

 This was his last sea service. 



At an early age he exhibited a remarkable taste for scientific pur- 

 suits, especially astronomy and geodesy. In 1830, he took charge of 

 the Department of Charts and Instruments, at Washington, — a new 

 bureau. Under his supervision, a small observatory (the first) was 

 established at Washington in 1833, when the first astronomical obser- 

 vations, under the auspices of the government, were taken by him, with 

 fixed instruments. In 1835, he erected on his own property, Capitol 

 Hill, a small observatory, which was used by the government for sev- 

 eral years. In 1837, he was sent to Europe to purchase instruments 

 for the South Sea Exploring Expedition, then fitting out under 

 command of Commodore Ap Catsby Jones, a duty he w^as peculiarly 

 fitted for. 



Admiral Wilkes was the author of several valuable works. The 

 narrative of the exploring expedition — five large quarto volumes and 

 atlas — was written by him. All the charts of the exploring expedi- 

 tion were constructed under his supervision, comprising two large folio 

 atlases. He wrote the hydrography of the exploring expedition. Vol. 

 XXIII. of the series, — a large quarto volume, — and produced a quarto 

 volume of tlie meteorological observations made during the voyage, — 

 Vol. XI. of the series of exploring expedition works. He also pub- 

 lished works on " Western America," the '" Theory of the Winds," 

 " Circulation of the Ocean," and " Zodiacal Light." He was, with 

 others, appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to examine the iron, 

 coal, and timber regions of the Deep River District, N. C, and made 

 an interesting report thereon, which was published by Congress in 



