1 66 MEMORIAL. 



trading and whaling ships into seas but little explored, and in 

 parts of the world before unknown, has increased the cares, the 

 dangers, and the losses of our merchants and mariners. Within 

 a few years, their cruises have extended from the coasts of Peru 

 and Chili to the Northwest coast, New Zealand, and the isles of 

 Japan. This increase of risk has been attended by an increase 

 of loss. Several vessels have been wrecked on islands and reefs 

 not laid down on any chart : and the matter acquires a painful 

 interest from the fact, that many ships have gone into those seas, 

 and no soul has survived to tell their fate. Your petitioners 

 consider it a matter of earnest importance that those seas should 

 be explored; that they should be surveyed in an accurate and 

 authentic manner, and the position of new islands, and reefs, and 

 shoals, definitely ascertained. The advancement of science, and 

 not their private interest only, but the general interests of the 

 nation, seem, to them, imperiously to demand it. They, 

 therefore, pray that an expedition may be fitted out, under the 

 sanction of the government, to explore and survey the islands and 

 coasts of the Pacific seas, and, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 

 November, 1828. 



