REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS. 



March 25, 1828. Mr. RIPLEY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, made the 

 following report: 



The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom were referred a great number 

 of memorials from citizens of various sections of the United States, 

 praying aid from the Government in fitting out vessels for an exploring 

 expedition to the Pacific seas, report : 



THAT the number and character of the memorialists, and the 

 opinions they have expressed upon the subject of the memorials, 

 have called the committee to an attentive and careful considera- 

 tion of the means required for such an expedition, the importance 

 of the interests connected with it, and the immediate as well as 

 ultimate advantages it promises to the nation. The committee do 

 not propose to recapitulate their own views upon these subjects, 

 but to refer the House to documents in their possession, with the 

 general correctness of which they are satisfied. 



For information in relation to the means required, they refer 

 to a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, of the 14th 

 of March, 1828, in reply to a note addressed to him by the 

 committee. 



In relation to the interests, individual and national, connected 

 with such an expedition, the committee refer to a statement sub- 

 mitted to them by Mr. J. N. Reynolds, on the 10th February, 

 1828, in answer to inquiries addressed to him by order of the 



