10 ADDRESS. 



within the compass of their abilities, to aid commercial enter- 

 prise j and not satisfied with the mere examination of dangerous 

 shoals and sand-banks, had made scientific observations to enable 

 the sailor to ascertain his coarse with greater precision and safety. 

 Twice did they send scientific men to distant parts of the coun- 

 try, to observe the transit of Venus over the sun ; and they 

 accomplished their task with astonishing accuracy, considering 

 how imperfect the instruments they used were, when compared 

 with those of the present day. Since the Declaration of Inde- 

 pendence, however, till the period of the last war, it is not known 

 that government expended anything (if we except a small appro- 

 priation for the expedition to the Rocky mountains) in behalf of 

 scientific or exploring expeditions. 



Can any reason be assigned for this neglect ? Perhaps it may 

 be found in the peculiar state of our great interests at that exciting 

 period. The agriculturist, viewing the constantly accumulating 

 profits of the merchant, thought it useless to support any measure 

 which might throw yet more wealth into his scale. The mer- 

 chant, on his side, engrossed in the pursuit of wealth, could not 

 stop to calculate dangers between him and his contemplated 

 result ; or, if he had, could he wait for their removal ? 



At this time there was but little competition among mer- 

 chants; each had enough to do. Soon after the French Revo- 

 lution broke out, and the European nations were in arms, we had 

 the carrying trade to ourselves, and accumulated wealth beyond 

 the profits of any people in modern times. 



But the golden harvest did not last long. In 1806, the exac- 

 tions of the belligerent powers grew more oppressive, and our 

 commerce met with many severe checks and embarrassments. 

 The embargo of 1807 followed the Berlin and Milan decrees, 

 together with the British orders in council, and non-intercourse 

 and war ensued soon after. Our navy had not been increased in 

 any degree commensurate with the extent of our commerce ; and 



