COMMERCE. 251 



wealth which may be opened and secured to us, seem to your 

 committee not only to justify, but to demand the appropriation 

 recommended ; they therefore report a bill for the purpose." 



<* 



During the same session this report was acted on, and a bill, 

 making an appropriation, passed the house of representatives. 



From that period to the present, no legislative action has been 

 taken upon the subject, though scarcely a session has passed that 

 memorials from one section or other of the country have not been 

 presented; and the continued solicitude of the public mind is 

 evinced in favour of the enterprise, now that the condition of our 

 country and its financial concerns can so easily afford the small 

 demand upon the treasury which such an expedition will require. 



The action of Congress is not invoked in favour of a measure 

 of doubtful expediency. The requisite information in forming an 

 enlightened judgment, and in directing the action of government, 

 is umple and complete, and will be found in the accompanying 

 documents. * 



The report of Mr. Reynolds on the islands in the Pacific shows, 

 at a single view, what remains to be accomplished. To examine 

 such of these islands as may be found to contain harbours and 

 places of refreshment for our fishermen, would, of itself, more 

 than justify the expenditure necessary for an expedition, to say 

 nothing of the collateral advantages to be derived in the attain- 

 ment of much useful knowledge, so highly to be prized by every 

 enlightened mind. 



Our interests in those seas have indeed become immense, and 

 extend beyond all former example ; for our whalers, sealers, and 

 traffickers are pursuing their voyages in parts of the world where, a 

 few years ago, it would have been adventurous for a discovery-ship. 



The following statement from Mr. Reynolds, in answer to an 

 inquiry addressed to him, shows the amounl of our interests afloat 

 among these islands at this moment : 



