CHAPTER V 



THE UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDITION, 

 1838-1842 



Its Projector, John N. Reynolds Progress of the Plan and its Final Adop- 

 tion Organization The Naval Officers and the Scientific Corps 

 Dana's Appointment Final Instructions and Departure from Hampton 

 Roads. 



WE are now brought to consider an enterprise which 

 did great credit to this country and had an im- 

 portant influence upon the life of Professor Dana. The 

 United States Exploring Expedition, under Captain 

 Wilkes, made its investigation of the coasts and islands 

 of the Pacific Ocean between 1838 and 1842. This im- 

 portant cruise has so far passed from memory that it is 

 quite worth while to give a considerable space to its his- 

 tory, with which Dana's biography is closely interwoven. 

 The father of this project was John N. Reynolds, who 

 began to advocate the exploration of the South Seas as 

 early as 1827, soon after the appearance of Admiral 

 Krusenstern's great work, in advance of the return of 

 Captain Beechey, and four years before the departure of 

 the Beagle and Adventure, under Captain Fitzroy. Little 

 is remembered respecting the life and character of the 

 enthusiastic projector. His name has dropped out of 

 the roll of famous Americans, or, strictly speaking, it has 

 never been there, and yet he deserves commemoration 

 because for a decade and more he was indefatigable in 

 promoting this great naval undertaking. It is therefore 



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