HYDROGRAPHY. 



CHAPTER I. 



INSTRUMENTS. 



The manufacture of astronomical instruments at the time the Ex- 

 pedition was fitted out, had not attained that perfection that it had in 

 Europe, and that it since has in this country. Confidence in our 

 mechanics was wanting, as well as encouragement sufficient for them 

 to compete with those of Europe, both in constructing and keeping for 

 sale, those that were required for its use ; of necessity, therefore, the 

 instruments which were furnished the Expedition, were mostly pro- 

 cured from the best makers in Europe. For this purpose it was 

 deemed necessary by the Government to send an officer to Europe, at 

 the time the Expedition was organizing under Commodore Jones, to 

 obtain such instruments as could not be had on this side of the Atlantic, 

 and as would suffice for the results in the departments of science which 

 the Expedition was intended to investigate. I was requested to submit 

 a list, and subsequently directed to proceed to Europe, with positive in- 

 structions to return in six months, or by the end of January, 1837; this 

 left me but about one hundred days to effect the object in : consequently, 

 I could not expect to have any instruments constructed, and little time 

 left to complete any that might be found unfinished. On my arrival, 

 I found that all the principal instrument makers were fully occupied, 

 and very unwilling to lay aside any of their engagements, and it was 

 only by representing the great objects of the Expedition, and their 

 becoming interested in them, that they were induced to furnish those 

 I was in search of. Messrs. Troughton and Simms, Dolland, Jones of 



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