ADDRESS. 99 



opportunity thus presented to them with avidity, and enter with 

 delight upon this new path to fame. 



Our seamen are hardy and adventurous, especially those who 

 are engaged in the seal trade and the whale fisheries ; and innured 

 as they are to the perils of navigation, are inferior to none on 

 earth for such a service. Indeed, the enterprise, courage, and 

 perseverance of American seamen are, if not unrivalled, at least 

 unsurpassed. What man can do, they have always felt ready to 

 attempt, what man has done, it is their character to feel able to 

 do, whether it be to grapple with an enemy on the deep, or to 

 pursue their gigantic game under the burning line, with an intelli- 

 gence and ardour that insure success, or pushing their adventurous 

 barks into the high southern latitudes, to circle the globe within 

 the Antarctic circle, and attain the Pole itself; yea, to cast 

 anchor on that point where all the meridians terminate, where our 

 eagle and star-spangled banner may be unfurled and planted, and 

 left to wave on the axis of the earth itself! where, amid the 

 novelty, grandeur, and sublimity of the scene, the vessels, instead 

 of sweeping a vast circuit by the diurnal movements of the earth, 

 would simply turn round once in twenty-four hours ! 



We shall not discuss, at present, the probability of this result, 

 though its possibility might be easily demonstrated. If this should 

 be realized, where is the individual who does not feel that such an 

 achievement would add new lustre to the annals of American 

 philosophy, and crown with a new and imperishable wreath the 

 nautical glories of our country ! ! 



We have done. For the courtesy with which we have been 

 received, and the indulgence with which we have been heard, 

 accept our thanks. 



To the ladies who have so kindly honoured us with their atten- 

 tion, our most respectful acknowledgments are due. You are 

 identified with this subject. It was from the sagacity and gene- 

 rosity of one of your sex, the high-minded Isabella, queen of 



