Visit of the Authorities. 9 



to the coast of South America and Western Africa, fol- 

 lowed in her wake, and it was now seen that the frigate was a 

 better sailer than the corvette, a circumstance so much the 

 more satisfactory, that the latter had hitherto been considered 

 the swiftest ship in our navy. 



The unfavourable state of the weather interfered so much 

 with the works which were to be finished at Trieste, that 

 the embarkation of provisions, swinging the compasses, &c., 

 &c., could only be proceeded with very slowly. 



At last, the members of the Commission arrived, and the 

 vessel only waited for sailing orders. 



Before leaving on so interesting an enterprise, with which 

 the most pleasing recollections of our lives will ever be 

 associated, we had the gratification of being honoured bv a 

 visit on board from the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. 

 The commander of the Expedition introduced the officers 

 and scientific gentlemen to his Imperial Highness, who 

 addressed them in affecting terms, and concluded his 

 remarks by expressing a hope that the frigate Novara would, 

 with God's help, return happily from her mission to her own 

 honour and that of the country. 



The narrative of the voyage is now presented, and, pro- 

 bably, the results of the various scientific investigations will very 

 shortly be offered to a discerning public, leaving it to them 

 to judge how far we have succeeded in realizing the hopes of 

 the illustrious Prince. But if we have not satisfied all the 

 expectations entertained, it certainly was not from insuf- 



