ADDRESS. 65 



flourishing settlement,) in September, 1833, the United States 

 frigate Potomac came nigh running on a dangerous reef, of which 

 no chart gave indication. When all these and many other places 



the latter gentleman says, "I have never before seen the importance of having a vessel 

 of war stationed at these islands for the protection of the whale fishery, as at the 

 present period. Scarcely has there been one of our whalers in the harbour, that has 

 not experienced more or less difficulty. I have, at one time, had sixty Americans 

 confined in the fort ; and hardly a day has passed that I have not been compelled to 

 visit one or more ships to quell a mutiny, or compel, by force, whole crews to do their 

 duty, who had united to work no longer. I should say, too, that there are more than 

 one hundred deserters now on shore from our ships, regular outlaws, ready to embark 

 in any adventure. Much of this trouble could have been avoided, had we a ship of 

 war here at the season when the whale ships visit the islands ; and I hope you will be 

 disposed to send us one from your squadron the next spring, as I feel assured that a 

 vessel of war will then be more needed than ever." 



J. Lennox Kennedy, our consul at the port of Mazatlan, in a letter dated May 16th, 

 1833, makes a similar request, on account of the frequent revolutions that are taking 

 place in the country ; while from the port of Callao, five American masters of vessels 

 urge a like petition, complaining of the hardships they suffer from a class of worthless 

 keepers of grog-shops, who entice away their men, to the great hazard, and even ruin, 

 of their voyages. 



On the receipt of the above from the masters of the whale ships, the commodore 

 made a communication to the commandant of marines at Callao, which by the latter 

 was forwarded to the government at Lima ; and in a few days, such regulations were 

 effected, under the superintendence of the port captain, as effectually checked, for a 

 time, the abuses complained of. The readiness with which the local authorities inter- 

 fered in this matter, on the representation of the commodore, furnishes an evidence of 

 what might be effected if we had commercial agents who attended to their duties. 



The mere appointment of a consul, as our consuls are appointed and supported in 

 other places, will not answer for our extended commercial operations in these seas. 

 We require a consul at the islands, one in Payta, and another in Talluahana, Chili, 

 on salaries which shall command the services of able men, and make them inde- 

 pendent in action : men, whose politeness and attention to their countrymen shall not 

 be proportioned, as it now is, to the amount of consignments made to their respective 

 commission houses. 



The sick also should be objects of special attention. In Payta we should have an 

 hospital on a simple and economical plan ; not a foreign port on the globe requires 

 one more. There are more than six thousand seamen constantly traversing the ocean 

 from Japan to this port, visiting each in the alternate changes of season, engaged in 

 business at all times adventurous, and often exceedingly hazardous ; and yet, within 

 this mighty range, there is not a spot where the disabled or infirm sailor can be placed, 

 with perfect assurance of being well attended. The consequence is, frequent in- 

 stances of suffering and death, under the most melancholy circumstances, but for 

 which neither the owners nor the captains are responsible. The mild and healthy 

 climate of Payta would be in favour of such an institution, and the expense would be 

 comparatively trifling. 



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