386 Expediency of surver/ing the Indian Archipelago. [MARCH, 



three or five years' expedition of this kind, or from several com- 

 bined expeditions, conducted by intelligent officers, aided by 

 the experience of Sir S. Raffles, Dr. Horsfield, Mr. Crawford, and 

 Other eminent naturalists and oriental scholars, what brilliant 

 acquisitions might we not anticipate ! Comparatively small risk 

 : — abundant means, and leisure to collect and mature observa- 

 tions — constant supplies of fresh provisions — within reach of our 

 own or friendly settlements, whence as often as might be 

 accounts could be regularly transmitted home, and from time to 

 time published; in short, such a field presents itself as for extent 

 and productiveness exceeds all calculation. 



I may add besides, what to many is becoming a source of sur- 

 prise and disappointment, that no exploit of any magnitude 

 seems in contemplation to adorn the annals of the present reign. 

 It will be remembered that all the magnanimous and disinte- 

 rested expeditions sent out by Britain, originated during the 

 reign of our late venerable monarch, and that however important 

 the enterprizes that have been brought to a conclusion since the 

 accession of George IV. they are but the sequel of that system 

 of generous enterprize which began, but which, I trust, did not 

 end with the reign of George 111. And it will likewise be kept 

 in mind that though the course or termination of the Niger 

 should be found out, or the North-west Passage effected,* or the 

 non-existence of the latter determined, the merit and the dis- 

 tinction, whatever these may be, will, according to the strict 

 letter of chronology, attach to the memory of that Prince under 

 whose 7-eign the expeditions were first planned, and partly per- 

 formed. The consequence will be, that little of this kind of 

 glory, whatever there may be of any other, will be left to form a 

 wreath for the brow of our present gracious Sovereign.')- 



Nor should it be wholly forgotten that the French and Ameri- 

 can governments may, if we should not, avail themselves of the 

 present interval of universal repose, to equip expeditions^ that 

 might forestall many of the benefits which are ours by prescrip- 

 tive right, and which are now ready, if we be not found wanting, 

 to drop into the lap of our national prosperity. Some may be 



• We cannot stifle our regret at having seen intimated, though in an unofficial shape, 

 that all further nautical attempts at a North-west Passage are to be laid aside. Our 

 sole reliance then must now be on Capt. Franklin, for I should witness with the deepest 

 regret the noble object which had so long occupied the energies of a Parry and his brave 

 associates, snatched from our gripe by the serfs of a Russian Boyar. 



-|- We are not unmindful that all the late arctic expeditions, with the one to the Coast 

 of Guinea commanded by Capt. Tuckey, were sent out under the auspices of his present 

 jftajesty when Prince Regent. 



t This prediction has been in part fulfilled since these remarks were put to paper, 

 and is one of tlie principal reasons why they have been obtruded in their present imper- 

 fect shape. A French discovery ship has been actually set apart for the coast of New 

 6uinea, and the President of the United 8tates has, in a late Message to Congress, 

 ijevived a design of Washington's, to survey the entire coast of America. These expe< 

 ditions, though limited to special purposes now, may be extended, or may be^et othcri. 



