62 ADDRESS. 



On being informed, about twelve months since, of the probable 

 loss of the French vessel Lilloise in the Polar Seas, one hundred 

 thousand francs were offered by the government as a reward to 

 ships of any nation, who should succeed in extricating her crew 

 from their perilous situation, while at the same time the Recherche 

 was despatched to look after them. 



With these multiplied examples before us, we feel emboldened to 

 ask, if our officers are less persevering and skilful than Europeans, 

 and if the lives of our mariners are to be held in less estimation 

 than those of foreigners ? A reply to the first question is con- 

 tained in the pages of our history; for an answer to the second, 

 we must look to the action of the government. 



But perhaps some one may ask, why not despatch a national 

 vessel from the Pacific squadron to the relief of these unfortunate 

 men ? and why may not all useful ends be accomplished by the 

 agency of our regular naval force on that station, and the intelli- 

 gence of our officers ? 



These are questions which, though often asked, evince more 

 humanity than judgment, since we hesitate not to say, that such a 

 step would carry with it the shadow of protection, without effecting 

 any substantial or permanent results. Let us examine this subject 

 in a practical point of view. What is the authorized force con- 

 stituting the Pacific squadron ? One frigate, two sloops, and a 

 schooner ; and even this is a larger force than is usually retained 

 there. Again, what are the duties of this squadron, and what the 

 extent of coast to be guarded by it ? It is constantly in motion, 

 on a line from the islands of Chiloe, in latitude forty-two degrees 

 south, to the coast of California, and even to the mouth of the 

 Columbia river, in a yet higher latitude north ; comprising at least 

 eighty degrees, or nearly one-fourth of the earth's circumference, 

 and embracing six of the separate governments of South America, 

 as often convulsed by political revolutions as their mountains and 

 plains are by the shocks of their earthquakes and the eruptions of 



