SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 265 



vance that has been almost wholly the work of our citizens, either at 

 home or abroad, the one in furnishing the means, the other in giving 

 the instruction. 



The Expedition had become so much identified with the history of 

 these islands during our stay, that we were made familiar with all 

 the village scandal. Few who live in such small places are aware 

 how unfavourable an impression they make upon visiters, and the 

 bad light in which they appear, by this habit of talking of each other ; 

 whatever may be the terms on which they associate together, or how- 

 ever discordant the materials of which the society is composed, they 

 would do well to avoid showing their uncharitable feelings, or making 

 use of detraction to create a bias against others. 



On the afternoon of the 27th November, the squadron being pre- 

 pared, we took leave of our kind friends, and particularly of those 

 belonging to the mission, to whom I feel under many obligations for 

 their uniform kindness to us. We then joined our vessels, and at 

 8 p. m. took our final leave of the Hawaiian Islands. 



At midnight, signal was made to heave-to, in order that I might 

 finish the instructions for the different vessels. Although it was out 

 of my power to visit Japan, I had determined if possible to ascertain 

 the character of the currents off that island. I therefore directed the 

 Porpoise and Oregon to follow out, and explore the shoals and reefs 

 extending in a west-northwest direction from the Hawaiian Islands,* 

 and proceed until they fell in with the current or stream that is sup- 

 posed by some to set along the coasts of Japan, and resemble the Gulf 

 Stream off our own coast. This done, they were ordered to proceed 

 through the China Seas, to Singapore, in the Straits of Malacca. 



With the Vincennes and tender it was my intention to proceed to 

 Strong's and Ascension Islands, which the Peacock had been unable 

 to reach in her cruise, examining every shoal that might lie in my 

 way, and thence to Manilla. I proposed on leaving that port to ex- 

 plore and survey the Sooloo Archipelago, then proceeding to Singa- 

 pore to meet the brigs, fill up with provisions, and thence sail for the 

 United States, where it was incumbent on me to arrive by the 31st 

 of May following. This, agreeably to my promise to my crew a 

 year previous, left me just six months to perform the duty, of which 

 ai least one hundred and forty days were required for the actual 

 passage. 



We parted company from the brigs the next day at noon, and bore 

 away under all sail to the southward and westward. At 4 p. m., the 



* For the instructions of Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, see Appendix X. 

 vol. v. x 34 



