NAVAL AFFAIRS. 269 



protection, countenance, support ; a homage paid by Christian na- 

 tions to science, knowledge, and civilization. It is, in truth, an 

 employment of peace and humanity. 



Enterprising, beyond all others, as our own citizens are, much 

 as they have individually given to this cause, the nation and gov- 

 ernment have yet contributed nothing. The committee believe 

 that this state of things should no longer exist, but that an effort 

 should now be made on a scale commensurate with the value of 

 the object. And they look to the Pacific ocean and South seas as 

 the proper theatre for exertion. They are less known than other 

 portions of the great deep ; they are filled with more difficulties 

 and dangers ; greater and more splendid and profitable results may 

 be anticipated there than elsewhere ; and the theatre is peculiarly 

 our own, from position and the course of human events. Christian 

 and civilized Europe, in the spirit of discovery and enterprise, 

 gave our continent to the world ; we may repay them, in part, by 

 a more accurate knowledge of the Still unexplored regions of the 

 southern hemisphere. 



The committee recommend an expenditure which shall be en- 

 tirely equal to the importance of the enterprise, and afford the best 

 security for success, and for those practical results which shall be 

 most honourable and useful. The expedition should be naval in 

 its character ; a portion of the means under the control of the 

 Navy Department should be applied to it, and it should be fitted 

 out and conducted under its auspices. The committee think it 

 ought to consist of two vessels of about two hundred tons burden, 

 for exploration ; one, of about one hundred tons, as a tender ; and 

 a store or provision ship of competent dimensions ; arid these ac- 

 companied by a sloop of war, to afford protection, and secure 

 peaceful and friendly relations with the inhabitants of the islands. 

 The smaller vessels may either be purchased, or built of materials 

 which are in our navy yards, and a large proportion of the expense 

 may be met by our naval means and facilities, without the slight- 



