394 Miscellanies. 



MISCELLANIES. 



DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN. 



1. Exploring Expedition. — The annexed is the official account of the 

 discoveries made by the exploring squadron in the antarctic regions. 



United States Ship Vincennes, March 10, 1840. 



Sir, — I have the honor to report that having completed our outfits and 

 observations at Sydney, N. S. W.,the exploring squadron under my com- 

 mand, composed of this ship, the Peacock^ Porpoise, and Flying Fish, 

 sailed in company on the 24th of December, with my instructions to pro- 

 ceed south as far as practicable, and cruise within the Antarctic Ocean. 

 Copies of the instructions were forwarded to you with my despatch, 

 No. 57. 



We continued in company until the first of January, when we parted 

 company with the Flying Fish, and with the Peacock, in a fog, on the 

 third. 



I then steered, with the Porpoise in company, for our first rendezvous, 

 Macquain's Island, and from thence to Emerald Island, our second ren- 

 dezvous, having passed over the supposed locality of the latter in long. 

 162° 30' E., lat. 57° 15' S., without seeing land or meeting with the 

 Peacock or Flying Fish. 



On the 10th of January, being in lat. 61° S., we fell in with the first 

 icelands, and continued steering to the southward among many icebergs, 

 which compelled us to change our course frequently in avoiding them. 



On the 12th we ran into the bay of field ice in long. 164° 53' E., and 

 lat. 64° 1 r S., presenting a perfect barrier to our progress further south ; 

 a heavy fog ensuing, during which we parted company with the Porpoise, 

 her commander having directions to follow my written instructions in 

 that event. 



I had determined to leave each vessel to act independently, believing 

 it would tend to give, if possible, a greater degree of emulation to us all ; 

 and being well satisfied that owing to the ice and thick weather, it 

 would be impossible to continue long in company, I deemed it preferable 

 to hazard the event of accident, rather than embarrass our operations. 



I therefore submit the details of the proceedings of this ship, as they 

 will, without doubt, nearly coincide with the movements of the other ves- 

 sels of the squadron, the reports from which will tend to verify our opera- 

 tions. 



After an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate through the ice on the 12th 

 of January, we proceeded to the westward, working along with head 

 winds and fogs, and on the 16th we fell in with the Peacock in long. 157° 

 43' E., lat. 65° 26' S. 



