MEMORIAL. ](59 



eminent, as well to point out the position of a dangerous reef, as 

 to defend them against the natives, who had seen nothing of our 

 power to restrain them from unlawful attacks upon their vessels 

 or their lives ; among them are those who have visited the islands 

 in the Pacific, as well as those in the east, and have seen and 

 felt the dangers our vessels are exposed to for the want of such 

 protection as an expedition, fitted out for the express purpose, 

 alone can give. 



Your memorialists refrain from going into any computation of 

 the immense amount of tonnage and capital engaged, from the 

 United States, in the whale-fishery, all of which is more or less 

 interested in such an expedition. Without attempting to desig- 

 nate the groups or islands most important to be examined, your 

 memorialists would simply call the attention of your honourable 

 body to one point, which may serve as an index to the rest : 

 the Feejee or Beetee islands. What is known of them ? They 

 were named, but not visited, by Captain Cook, and consist of 

 sixty or more in number. Where shall we find charts of this 

 group, pointing out its harbours and dangers? There are none 

 to be found, for none exist. And yet, have we no trade there ? 

 We speak not for others, but for ourselves. 



From this port, the following vessels have been, or now are, 

 employed in procuring biche-le-mer and shells at the Feejee 

 islands, in exchange for which eastern cargoes are brought into 

 our country, and thus contributing no inconsiderable amount to 

 our national revenue : 



Ship Clay, brig Quill, have returned ; brig Faun, lost at the 

 islands ; ship Glide, Niagara, also lost ; and bark Peru greatly 

 damaged, and in consequence condemned at Manilla ; brig Spy 

 damaged, but repaired again ; brig Charles Doggett, bark Pallas, 

 brig Edwin, ship Eliza, ship Emerald, ship Augustus, and brig 

 Consul. 



The Charles Doggett has recently returned, in consequence of 

 H 22 



