REPORT. 191 



will be able to bring home to us results which will advance the 

 honour and promote the interests of the nation. 



The resolution was understood to authorize the use of the naval 

 appropriations to furnish -facilities for the expedition ; and they 

 have been used for all those objects which come within the terms 

 in the bills of appropriations ; as pay, subsistence, instruments, 

 books, &c. But there are indispensable objects, which do not 

 come within any of the items in the bill, and for which provision 

 is required. A bill on the subject was reported by the naval com- 

 mittee at the last session of Congress, and placed on the list of 

 business to be acted upon, but was not reached before the close 

 of the session. Its passage is necessary to accomplish the pur- 

 poses designed by the resolution. It does not seem proper to 

 detail the " facilities" which it is the intention of the department 

 to aiford. One of them should be a vessel to carry provisions, in 

 order that, upon the arrival of the expedition at the scene of ope- 

 rations, the exploring vessels may be supplied in such a manner 

 that they may not be driven from their employment at too early a 

 period, and that they may subsequently, from time to time, be 

 further supplied from distant stations, so that no cause but the 

 elements may arrest their labours : but they may at all times and 

 seasons be at liberty to pursue their investigations without inter- 

 ruption. Other and obvious uses may be made of such a vessel, 

 in the relief which it will afford should disease or death make 

 serious inroads on their numbers. A vessel suited to this object 

 is within the control of the department, and will either be char- 

 tered or purchased, as the means afforded by Congress may 

 permit. The importance of the expedition, in all its aspects, and 

 especially in its commercial relations, has augmented, in the view 

 of the department, by all the inquiries and investigations which 

 have been made ; and an anxious desire is felt that nothing should 

 be omitted which can tend to its ultimate success. 



