INTRODUCTION. 
vn 
Without taking any further measures on the subject, Congress 
adjom-ned on the 16th of July. 
It seemed evident that the pubUc mind, though always just 
when correctly informed, had, in this instance, been misled by 
partial statements and publications of irresponsible persons, who 
attempted to pronounce upon the merits of the proceedings at 
Quallah-Battoo without knowing, or having it in their power to 
know, a single motive which had influenced the mind of the 
commodore during his stay on the Malay coast. 
These circumstances, together with the extent and nature of 
the Potomac's voyage, — ^the direct manner in which the attention 
of Congress and the country at large had been thus early called 
to it— seemed to require that an authentic record should be pre- 
pared ; in which not only the incidents of the voyage, but the 
public considerations which led to it, — and the motives which, at 
different periods of the cruise, had operated on the mind of its 
commander, in carrying into execution the views and instructions 
of- the government, should be faithfully preserved. 
It was at this time, and under- these circumstances, and with 
the express sanction of the commodore himself, that I undertook 
the task of preparing this record — in the execution of which 
every facility was offered me. Though more or less indebted to 
most of the officers of the higher grades for some incidents of 
the voyage, noted down by them on going below from their 
watches on deck, yet I feel it my duty especially to acknowledge 
my obligations to Lieutenant R. Pinkham and Acting-lieutenant 
S. Godon. The former, an intelligent officer, had kept a copious 
record, day by day, as the incidents of the voyage passed before 
him, which notes were placed in my hands. The latter, a young 
officer of high promise, had been an attentive observer, and 
recorded what he saw. For days, and weeks, and even months, 
he was ever ready to pore over the charts with me ; and, by a 
vivid recollection, to recall the rich tints of a tropical sky, the 
phosphorated gleamings of the ocean, or the mellow hues of the 
landscape among the " summer isles." , The commodore's private 
journal was also in my hands ; while the daily communication 
and unrestrained intercourse which existed between us, enabled 
me to speak with knowledge of all the public considerations 
•which guided the movements of the frigate under his command. 
