United States Exploring Expedition. 393 



Art. XVI. — United States Exploring Expedition. 



England and France have long been honorable rivals on the 

 ocean, as well in exploring as in warlike expeditions. The voy- 

 ages of Cook, Vancouver, Flinders, Parry, Beechey, King, Fitz- 

 roy, and Ross, are conspicuous in the annals of English naviga- 

 tion ; while France is no less honored by her explorations under 

 Bougainville, La Perouse, Labillardiere, Duperrey, Freycinet, 

 and D'Urville. Both countries have looked beyond the mere dis- 

 covery of new lands, new commercial resources, and territorial 

 aggrandizement. Their efforts have been directed towards an 

 increase of knowledge in every branch of science, and there are 

 few regions from the equator to the poles, which have not been 

 tracked by their vessels. Whatever could illustrate the condi- 

 tion or resources of the regions visited ; the customs, languages, 

 or history of their unknown tribes ; or the motion of the winds, 

 the waters, the world, or the stars, has been thought worthy of 

 observation. Cook was dispatched to the Pacific Ocean expressly 

 to observe the transit of Venus, and Sir Joseph Banks and Forster 

 accompanied him at different times in his voyages around the 

 world. In the late voyage of Fitzroy, Mr. Darwin was associa- 

 ted with the expedition, and made large contributions to science. 

 France has outstripped England in the liberality with which her 

 expeditions have been fitted out, and in the magnificence of her 

 publications. The many folio volumes of plates, published as 

 the result of the voyages of Freycinet, Duperrey, and D'Urville, 

 and those of Napoleon's expedition into Egypt, are among the 

 most splendid productions of the age. They are a noble gift 

 from France to the world. 



America has at last taken her part in the labors of exploration. 

 An Exploring Expedition has been sent out, and has returned. 

 It was organized on a plan honorable to a nation that is second to 

 none in enterprise and general education ; and its results, when 

 published, will, it is believed, equal in amount and interest, those 

 of any expedition that has preceded it. The expedition sailed 

 under the command of Lieut. Charles Wilkes, who was aided by 

 intelligent officers, well fitted for the duties to which they were 

 called ; and the large number of charts that have been made in 

 the course of the cruise, evince alike the energy of the com- 



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