1 Voyage of the Novara. 



Austrian navy, and to commission the sailing frigate Novara 

 for that purpose, a vessel qualified to meet every requisite 

 condition. 



The chief object of the Expedition — a circumstance which 

 must not be lost sight of — was to afford the officers and cadets 

 of the ship an opportunity of acquiring that practical acquaint- 

 ance with naval affairs which, added to the theoretical knowledge 

 previously attained, would render them thoroughly familiar 

 with nautical routine, and thus materially contribute to the 

 further development of the Austrian navy. 



This branch of the public service, placed since 1848 

 on an entirely new basis, has with difficulty worked its way 

 through all those embarrassing circumstances inseparable 

 from the organization of a new system ; but the honest 

 zeal and energy of the board appointed, supported by favour 

 from the highest quarters, have succeeded in introducing 

 many improvements, and in increasing by degrees the 

 numerical strength of the men, thereby laying a secure 

 foundation for the rising naval force, the importance of which, 

 at this moment, every reflecting patriot will acknowledge. 



The intended Expedition offered, besides the advantages for 

 the service, another not less important for the State, namely, 

 the recognition of the Austrian flag in remote quarters of the 

 globe, to which it had never hitherto penetrated ; and by thus 

 opening new channels for the outlet of our natural products 

 and manufactured goods, to promote the industrial, com- 

 mercial, and maritime interests of the empire. 



