THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 89 



ETploration and Survey of the China Seas and Behrhg's Straits. 



In the summer of 1852, Congress made an appropriation of $?125, 000 

 for " building or purchase cf suitable vessels and for prosecuting a 

 survey and reconnoisance for naval and commercial purposes, of such 

 parts of Behring Straits of the North Pacific ocean and the China 

 seas as are frequented by American whale ships, and by trading ves- 

 sels in their routes between the United States and China." Tlie act 

 was passed at too late a period in the 3'ear to allow an}^ action beyond 

 the organization of the party, and the commencement of preparations 

 for departure. The command of the expedition was entrusted by the 

 Secretary of the Navy, Hon. John P. Kennedy, to Captain C. Ringgold, 

 an officer of much experience in the duties required, Irom his connexion 

 with the United States exploring expedition under Captain Wilkes. 

 The necessary vessels were procured and equipped in the most sub- 

 stantial manner, and fitted out with all the instruments required for 

 making observations in astronomy, hydrography, magnetism, meteor- 

 ology, together with the most complete equipment of natural history 

 apparatus ever taken to sea. The expedition was fortunate in se- 

 curing the services of Mr. William Stimpson as principal zoologist, 

 and Mr. Charles Wright as botanist, both of them gentlemen well 

 known for successful prosecution of their respective departments in 

 former explorations. Mr. F. H. Storer went out as chemist and taxi- 

 dermist, and £. M. Kern, the intrepid companion of Fremont and Sit- 

 greaves, as artist and photographer. Many of the naval officers on 

 board expected to lend efficient aid in the natural history department 

 as well as in the physical, to which they are more especially assigned. 



The squadron, as finally organized, consisted of the tbllowing vessels : 



1. The slooj) Vincennes, bearing the flag of Commander Ringgold, 

 with Lieutenant Rolando as lieutenant commanding and executive offi- 

 cer ; Lieutenant J. M. Brooke, acting lieutenant and assistant astrono- 

 mer ; William B. Boggs, purser and artist; Frederick D. Stuar^ 

 secretary and draughtsman; William Stimpson, zoologist to expedition ; 

 F. H. Storer, chemist and taxidermist, and Edward M. Kern, photo- 

 grapher and artist. 



2. Steamer John HancocJc, Lieutenant John Rodgers in command ; 

 Charles Wright, botanist to expedition, and A. H. Ames, assistant 

 naturalist. 



3. Brig Porpoise, Alonzo B. Davis, Lieutenant Commanding. 



4. Schooner Fennimore Cooper, acting Lieutenant Commanding H. R. 

 Stevens. 



5. Store ship John P. Kennedy, Lieutenant Commanding Napoleon 

 Collins. 



These vessels left Norfolk in June, 1853, and went to St. Simon's 

 bay. Cape of Good Hope, and after a short stay, proceeded to Hong 

 Kong, China. The sloop of war Vincennes, Commander C. Ringgold, 

 and the brig Porpoise, Lieutenant Commanding A. B. Davis, by the 

 way of Van Dieman's Land, through the Coral seas, passing the Caro- 

 line and Ladrone and Bashee islands, arriving at Hong Kong on the 

 17th of March ; the steamer John Hancock, Lieutenant Commanding 

 John Rodgers, the store ship John P. Kennedy, Lieutenant Command- 



