436 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. [December, 
Still advancing to the north, we find the ports of Mexico, up the 
Gulf of California. 
Thus does the Pacific station present one continued line of 
coast, of not less than seventy degrees of latitude, interspersed 
with numerous ports of entry, and under the fluctuating commer- 
cial regulations and restrictions of new and distinct governments. 
It might, indeed, be said, that the station extended north as far as 
the mouth of Columbia river ; which would make it more than 
eighty degrees of latitude, embracing about forty on each side of 
the equator. 
But even this extensive coast does not embrace the whole of 
the Pacific station. Stretching off from the coast, a new and ex- 
tensive world is opened to the west, among the islands. The 
present important and daily increasing interests of the fisheries 
and other trafiic ; the nature of the business ; the amount of ton- 
nage and capital employed ; all render this part of the station 
especially deserving the national care. No one can behold the 
hardy, silent, and persevering efforts of our countrymen in this 
quarter, without a feeling of exultation and pride ! They are con- 
fined to no sea or clime, and often perform the circumnavigation 
of the globe in making up a single voyage. The numerous difii- 
culties they encounter, and the daily complaints among them, 
show that they have not been sufficiently protected ; and that the 
islands forming a part of the station, require at least one vessel 
from the squadron to be constantly among them. 
Every thing conspires to render the Pacific a place of great 
interest to the people of the United States at the present time. 
Our future sea-fights are as likely to take place here as on the 
Atlantic Ocean; for where we are acquiring a preponderating 
commercial interest, there must be our navy also. 
Such is the extent and importance of the Pacific station — a 
station which cannot be well protected with a less force than one 
frigate, two sloops-of-war, and a schooner. The coast of Chili 
should never be without one, and the same may be said of Peru ; 
while the ports to the north, Panama, and in the Gulf of Califor- 
nia, to the northwest, and the islands, will afford sufficient active 
employment for two more. 
Anxious to fall in with the other vessels, now to the north, the 
commodore determined on leaving Valparaiso on the second of 
