THE 1800 s -(Cont'd) 



For a myriad of reasons or excuses (economy, retrenchment, politics, etc.) it required ten years 

 and the continuing support and appeals by such organizations as the East India Marine Society of 

 Salem and the American Philosophical Society to gain Congressional authorization for the 

 expedition. Support even came from the distinguished Russian navigator. Admiral Krusenstern, 

 who provided information and recommendations, along with the most improved charts of his 

 ATLAS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. In preparation for this undertaking the Navy had designed 

 and built two exploring vessels and one tender. The two exploring vessels were the brigs Consort 

 and Pioneer, which were approximately 85 feet long and displaced 230 tons. The tender was the 

 schooner Pilot, approximately 70 feet long. These three vessels were tested in 1837 and were 

 found to be too slow to participate in the expedition. The Navy next purchased in 1837 the 

 schooner Clara as a candidate for the expedition. Renamed the Active, she also was found to be 

 too slow and was subsequently sold the following year. Suffice to say that Wilkes did obtain his 

 fleet of ships and the general orders given to him by Secretary of the Navy, J. K. Paulding, 

 contained the following instructions: "Although the primary objective of the Expedition is the 

 promotion of the great interests of commerce and navigation, yet you will take all occasions to 

 extend the bounds of science and promote the acquisition of knowledge." Particular attention was 

 directed in the orders to the "Feejee" Islands, where Wilkes was enjoined to "teach the natives of 

 the modes of cultivation," and to encourage them to "raise hogs in greater abundance." The real 

 purpose of the Expedition, however, was best expressed by the words: 



". . . you will use your best endeavors wherever you may go, to leave 

 behind a favourable impression of your country and countrymen. The 

 Expedition is not for conquest but for discovery. Its objects are all peaceful; 

 they are to extend the empire of commerce and science; to diminish the hazards 

 of the ocean and point out to future navigators a course by which they may 

 avoid dangers and find safety." 



The expedition, which included a philologist, conchologist, botanist, mineralogist, horticulturist, 

 two naturaHsts and two draughtsmen (artists), left Hampton Roads August 1838 following a visit 

 by President Martin Van Buren. After four years, the expedition returned to New York in June 

 1842, having sailed completely around the world. The ships initially comprising the exploring 

 expedition were the 127-foot sloop-of-war F/"«cennex (Wilkes' flagship); the 118-foot sloop-of-war 

 Peacock: the 88-foot brig Porpoise, the tenders Sea-Gull and Flying-Fish (two former New York 

 pilot boats of 96 and 86 feet, respectively); and the 109-foot storeship Relief. Of these original six 

 ships, only the Vincennes and the Porpoise completed the entire voyage. The Sea-Gull was lost at 

 sea without a trace in May 1839, and also that year the Relief was sent home from Callao, Peru, by 

 way of the Hawaiian Islands and Sydney, Australia as being too slow a sailer. The Peacock was 

 wrecked 18 July 1841 on a bar at the mouth of the Columbia River and replaced by a merchant 

 vessel, the 85-foot brig Thomas Perkins which was renamed the Oregon, and the Flying-Fish, 

 having become unseaworthy, was sold in Singapore on the return trip. 



The expedition which covered nearly 90,000 miles resulted in the survey of 280 islands, the 

 determination of about 2,000 geographic positions and an atlas containing 106 new nautical 

 charts. 



Wilkes was the first to assert the existence of a southern continental land mass which, in a 

 letter to Secretary Paulding, dated 1 1 March 1840, he named the "Antarctic Continent." Nineteen 

 volumes covering the expedition were published. Of these Wilkes wrote the NARRATIVE (5 

 volumes, published 1844) and the volumes METEOROLOGY (published 1851) and 

 HYDROGRAPHY (published 1861). 



Recognizing his tremendous contribution to oceanography, it is ironical to note that, upon 

 his return to the United States, he was greeted not with honor and recognition, but with animosity 



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