168 MEMORIAL. 



lature of Rhode Island, during its recent session, of which the 

 following is a copy : 



" State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in General 

 Assembly, October Session, A. D. 1834. 



"Resolved, That, in the opinion of this general assembly, the 

 subject of the memorial of J. N. Reynolds and others, dated 

 November, 1834, praying that provision may be made by law for 

 a voyage of discovery and survey to the South seas, is highly 

 important to our shipping and commercial interests, and is hereby 

 recommended by the said assembly to the favourable considera- 

 tion of the Congress of the United States." 



In favour of this memorial, that an expedition be fitted out 

 under the sanction of government, the object of which shall be 

 to examine the numerous places of traffic already opened by the 

 enterprise of our citizens, and to open new channels for the exten- 

 sion of trade, by the examination of such groups of islands, in the 

 great North and South Pacific ocean, as are imperfectly or en- 

 tirely unknown ; to ascertain their true positions on the charts, 

 examine their harbours and capacities, open friendly intercourse 

 with the natives, which may be the means of preventing the effu- 

 sion of blood ; in a word, there are so many ways in which such 

 an expedition might be useful, if well conducted, to our extended 

 and unprotected interest in those distant seas, that a minute speci- 

 fication of them seems unnecessary, as they must be obvious to 

 every enlightened mind. 



On this subject, many of your memorialists speak with a prac- 

 tical knowledge ; for among them are those who were the first to 

 display our national colours in our commerce to the eastern world ; 

 among them are those who have been engaged in trade on coasts 

 and among islands but little known ; and they have felt, in losses 

 and in painful solicitude, the want of the protection of their gov 



