ADDRESS. 27 



" That we have an immense and increasing commerce in that 

 region, which needs the protecting kindness of the government, 

 and may be greatly extended by such an expedition. Of the 

 extent and nature of this commerce, it is not easy to write briefly) 

 nor is it necessary. It is better* known to none than to some of 

 the members of the naval committee in the House of Repre- 

 sentatives. The estimate of its value has been much augmented, 

 in the view of the Department, by the reports which have been 

 made, under its orders, by our naval officers, who have com- 

 manded vessels of war in the Pacific, and which are now on file. 



"The commercial operations carried on in that quarter, are 

 difficult and hazardous. They are correctly represented in the 

 memorial of the inhabitants of Nantucket, to which I would refer, 

 as well as to some of the many other memorials which have been 

 addressed to Congress on this subject. It would seem wise in 

 the government to render these commercial operations less hazard- 

 ous and less destructive of life and property, if it can be done by 

 a moderate expenditure of money. 



" The commerce in the Pacific ocean affords one of the best 

 nurseries of our seamen. An expedition, such as that proposed, 

 would be calculated to increase that class of citizens an increase 

 in which the government and nation are deeply interested. 



"We now navigate the ocean, and acquire our knowledge of 

 the globe, its divisions, and properties, almost entirely from the 

 contributions of others. By sending an expedition into that im 

 mense region, so little known to the civilized world, we shall add 

 something to the common stock of geographical knowledge, which 

 is not merely useful to commerce, but connects itself with almost 

 all the concerns of society ; and, while we make our contributions 

 to this common stock, we shall not fail to derive the best advan- 

 tages to ourselves, and be richly paid, even in a calculation of 

 expenditure and profit." 



On this view of the subject, thus perspicuously set forth, the 





