394 United States Exploring Expedition. 



marider, and the industry and skill of all engaged in the surveys. 

 The duties have been extremely laborious, beyond the concep- 

 tion of the comfortable house-dweller at home. The loss of one 

 schooner with all hands, including two officers ; the total wreck 

 of another vessel — the sloop of war Peacock — stripping the crew 

 of every thing but their lives ; the massacre of two officers by the 

 savages of the Feejee Islands, and of a sailor by the treacherous 

 Kingsmill Islanders, are the only fatal disasters: but they are a 

 few only of its perils. Indeed there were dangers every where, 

 by land as well as by sea. The personal adventures in the 

 course of the cruise, told as simple tales, without exaggeration, 

 would make a volume full of startling incidents, and replete 

 with interest. 



It is gratifying to learn that the country will soon be put in pos- 

 session of the facts collected. Thus far those engaged in it have 

 alone been benefited. They have collected information that will 

 be invaluable to them as men of intelligence and members of so- 

 ciety. It remains for them to give this information to the coun- 

 try, that the people who have borne the expense, may also par- 

 take of the profits. The affairs of the expedition are in the 

 hands of the Library Committee of Congress, and under their 

 direction, Captain Wilkes has been put in charge of the history 

 of the voyage, the charts and philosophical observations, and the 

 other departments of science are placed in the hands of those 

 that had charge of them during the voyage. Each will prepare 

 his own reports, reap his own honors, and be held responsible for 

 his own facts. The extent of the work cannot be definitely 

 stated : the plates will form several folio volumes in the style of 

 the voyage of the Astrolabe. 



As the country is much interested to know what has been 

 done by the expedition, it is proposed to give, in as brief a man- 

 ner as possible, some idea of the material on hand for publica- 

 tion, and the general character and extent of the collections. Our 

 acquaintance with the gentlemen of the expedition, enables us 

 to state many particulars which have not yet appeared in print, 

 the accuracy of which may be relied on. 



We prelude our remarks, by giving the track of the vessels as 

 laid down in Capt. Wilkes's synopsis of the cruise. 



On August 19, 1838, the vessels left the Capes of the Chesa- 

 peake and sailed for Rio Janeiro, making short calls at Madeira 



