1832.] 
ISLAND OF SUMATRA. 
233 
hundred to twelve hundred thousand dollars capital annually; 
that the direct and circuitous trade springing from this island, has 
formed no inconsiderable item of our commercial prosperity; 
that if the aggregate of the whole trade could be ascertained, it 
would probably not fall far, if any, short of a sum equal to the 
entire capital of the Bank of the United States ; and yet, only a 
short time since, when it became necessary to despatch an armed 
vessel to that point, a chart of the coast was not to be found in 
the possession of our government ! And though the inquiry was 
not actually to be made, in what part of the world Sumatra was 
located, yet almost every thing that was known of it beyond the 
circle of those who were engaged in the trade, will be found in 
the Appendix marked A. and B. 
This is not the only point to which these remarks might be 
applied ; for many others could be named, were it our present 
purpose to do so. The genius of our people is strongly and de- 
cidedly imbued with the spirit of maritime adventure ; and it is 
hoped, for the honour of our country and the American name, 
that the time has at length come, when the knowledge and pro- 
tection of our government shall at least keep pace with, if not 
lead in, the enterprise of its citizens. 
, Previous to the Potomac, no public vessel had visited India 
and China for the special protection of our commerce, since the 
Congress frigate in eighteen hundred and twenty-two ; and none 
had passed through these seas since, except the Vincennes, on 
her return from the Pacific in eighteen hundred and thirty. Fol- 
lowing in the track of the Potomac, the Peacock and Boxer 
have both been in the east, and through a commercial agent, who 
went in the Peacock, we have understood that some new chan- 
nels of trade have been opened, and obstructions in old ones 
removed. There is still room for further action ; while further 
comment is reserved for another place. 
An ample supply of wood and water, and fresh provisions 
from Soo-soo, had now been taken on board; and the rajahs of 
the neighbourhood continued to pay their visits to the commo- 
dore, or to send their deputations with professions of peace, and 
the promise of their future good deportment towards the Ameri- 
cans. It might have been well, had time permitted further con- 
