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usefulness, not to say the necessity of such an establishment, for them immedi¬ 
ately to appreciate the object, and, so far as the powers of the Government extend, 
to furnish the means to carry it into effect. I am aware that this has already been 
ably done in a report on the proper application of the Smithsonian bequest, pre¬ 
sented to Congress, at its last session, by a gentleman with whom I am happy to 
be associated in promoting the progress of science. His long continued efforts to 
establish a National Observatory will, I trust, be finally crowned with success, and 
I shall always reflect with satisfaction on having, on the first occasion that pre¬ 
sented itself, seconded, however feebly, his liberal and enlightened views. 
“ Second to Astronomy in its importance to the wants and interests of Naviga¬ 
tion, and essential to those of commerce, is Geography; a science which equally 
requires the fostering care of Government. In this respect it has been more fortu¬ 
nate than Astronomy. The expedition of Lewis and Clark, undertaken by direc¬ 
tion of Mr. Jefferson, and destined to explore the route across the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains to the Pacific Ocean; that of the brave and gallant Pike; and those under 
that enterprising officer and accomplished observer Long, still further to examine 
that portion of our territory; the coast survey which is now in progress under the 
learned and accurate Hassler ; the exploration of> the country lying between the 
Missouri and Mississippi rivers by that indefatigable and scientific traveller Nicol¬ 
let; and the expedition under the command of Lieut. Wilkes, intended to explore 
unknown seas, to discover new sources of commercial enterprise, and to point out 
the dangers which beset the path of the navigator, w'hile it sweeps from the charts 
those islands and shoals which have no existence, save in the imagination of for¬ 
mer hydrographers; have been fitted out and supported by the Government, and 
have attracted the favorable notice of scientific men throughout the w r orld. The 
Geographical Society of France speaks, by its President, of that expedition in the 
following terms : ‘In calling your attention to the voyages round the world, and to 
other maritime enterprises which have, in our time, so largely contributed to the 
establishment and progress of geography, I have to observe, that it is no longer 
from our old Europe alone that these great expeditions set forth. The new world 
now rivals the old. The Government of the United Stales of America—of that 
nation which, in less than half a century, has taken a prominent station among the 
maritime powers—sends out, in its turn, an exploring expedition towards the An¬ 
tarctic pole.’ There is every reason to hope that the results of this expedition will 
prove as useful and honorable to the nation as its conception was creditable to its au¬ 
thors. It is a remarkable fact, that three national expeditions on voyages of discov¬ 
ery and for purposes of science, were traversing the same ocean at the same period : 
the American and French squadrons being in sight of each other, in a stormy sea, 
on an unknown and ice-bound coast, and striving with each other for the honorable 
distinction of priority of discovery. We await with impatience the rich harvest of 
new scientific observation and physical facts which the return of our exploring 
squadron will bring us. Much, however, remains to be done for the advancement 
of geography in our country. The vast inland seas which form our northern 
boundary, covered as they are with vessels, and teeming with commerce, have 
