But this is another digression. Our present business is | I fancied the age he had attained to be more than a with the woods.

EXPLORING EXPEDITION.

Thoughts suggested by its approaching departure.

Three periods characterize the history of the progress of navigation:

cessity of perfecting the knowledge of the globe-of describing the newly discovered portions, of fixing their relative positions, and of enriching science, commerce and the arts with the natural products of their different climates. England was the first to start in this glorious career, the era of which terminates the second period of the progress of navigation: she can boast a Cook, who established the geography of the oceanic seas, and founded the school from which proceeded Foster, Davis, Vancouver and others. France followed with honor: she had her Bougainville, Laperouse, Marchand, d'Entrecasteaux, &c.. The public was put in possession of those interesting and instructive journals redounding so much to the credit of these illustrious men, and gaining for them universal gratitude and the admiration of navigators and geographers-journals forming of them

In the first, Columbus discovers a new world. At a later period, hardy adventurers launch into the immense sea lying between the continents of America and Asia, discovering continents and islands, the inhabitants of which, it seemed to have condemned to remain forever unknown. By their hazardous voyages, the domain of geography is enriched with those numberless islands and fertile archipelagos, scattered throughout the great ocean, and all the numerous lands whose extent, position, formation, as well as the origin of their inhabitants, offer so vast a field to political enterprise, to the re-selves complete encyclopedias; displaying the skill of searches of the man of science, and the meditation of the philosopher.

These brilliant discoveries, dissipating the last shadows of the middle age, roused the spirit of conquest and of commercial speculation: ambition incited sovereigns, cupidity animated their subjects, and gold, the charms of which all men are capable of knowing and appreciating, was the sole object of every enterprise. And so passed the second period, of more than two centuries, during which the vessels of every maritime nation in Europe traversed the seas in every direction, adding to the discoveries of their predecessors such islands only as the fortune of their route might throw in their way. But no elevated sentiment governing this general and simultaneous movement, little advantage resulted from it to the acquisition of positive geographical knowledge. Nautical science was still in its infancy; it possessed only arbitrary and uncertain methods for the determination of longitudes at sea; and the men under whose command the vessels were placed, were, from their habits and education, more inclined to an adventurous pursuit of fortune, than to the advancement of the art on which depended the success of their profession. The positions of the accumulating discoveries, not being determined with even approximate accuracy upon the charts, and the most important of these discoveries being often kept secret, through the jealousy of certain nations, it sometimes happened that the same place was supposed to be discovered several times, and the science of geography was then at its epoch of disorder and confusion, during which, the navigator knew not on what to depend for his government, nor the historian from what document he could draw for authentic information.

Forty years of inaction succeeded this eager thirst of gold, war and conquest, upon these remote shores. During this time, the intelligence of Europe became emancipated; a revolution in feeling took place, the sciences shed a bright light over the theory of the celestial world, and over every branch of natural philosophy; the arts, enlightened by them, exerted a reciprocal influence, by extending their application, and civilization commenced an empire, henceforth never to be disputed. With better times came better principles-principles now more moral and more enlightened, more liberal and more humane, placing men in proper relation with the new state of things, and bringing back to their bosoms a sentiment of true glory.

Enlightened governments recognised at last the ne

the navigator and the veracity of the historian; from the rich records of which the statesman may draw his details for projects of public utility, and the philosopher and man of science the information to elucidate the phenomena of nature and of man.

The third period belongs to our own age. It is not remarkable for any great discoveries in geography, to immortalize the names of those who have made them. But a new spirit characterizes it, and a new glory is open to it :-a glory not less solid that it is more diffi cult to acquire, that it does not depend on fortune, and that it must be sought with trouble and danger to be merited. This period is immediately interesting to us, and will justify our entering into some details to make known the spirit which characterizes it.

The world may be said to have been known only in mass. The multitudes of voyages performed in every direction, had nearly demonstrated that there remained no more important lands to discover; that nothing more could be hoped than to fall upon some small islands on an unfrequented route, and perhaps some uninhabitable lands of little extent, which might be still shut up in the ices of the poles, that had as yet barred all access to them. How fatal to the advancement of human know. ledge, had enlightened rulers, and learned societies, and navigators, and geographers, imagined then, that the full harvest had been reaped-that all had been done! Every thing, on the contrary, it may be asserted, with the exception of discoveries, remained to be done! The same ground was again to be gone over, but with more efficient material aid, and more precise and exact scientific means than the preceding age had been able to af ford. Fortunately, Europe, recovering from its long wars, could at last enjoy the benefits of peace, and with the proof of its advance in science and intelligence, proclaim the high degree of civilization it had attained. The crowned heads of Europe perceived that the only ambition to be permitted them, was that of laboring for the prosperity and well-being of their people, in che rishing that elevated love of science, which had been developed, and which is now a characteristic of every nation. The epoch was ready. Astronomy had reach ed that sublime perfection as to strike with astonishment even him who is familiar with it. It taught numerous new methods of observation and calculation, applicable under all circumstances of navigation. The celestial Ephemerides, an indispensable work for the scientific traveller, and the most useful of the monuments raised

by the liberality and wisdom of France and England to
the commerce of nations and in aid of humanity, were
calculated with a degree of exactness till then unknown,
and offered to the navigator a chart of the heavens, with
which he could compare with confidence the sky of the
regions which he visited, and safely deduce from this
comparison all the elements of position, direction and
distance that the object of his pursuit might require.
The mechanic arts had perfected the astronomical
instruments, and those for measuring time; the inge-
nuity of the economic arts was taxed to improve the
number and quality of articles of subsistence, in
contriving new modes of preparation; and better means
of preserving the health and comfort of the lonely ad-
venturer, was secured by a variety and abundance of
wholesome food. Finally, the improvements in naval
architecture, by a better arrangement of the parts
of the vessel, both as regarded the strength of the
ship and the accommodation of the crew, conduced to the
security and comfort of those, for whom it was so long
to be the home. A vessel thus equipped for objects
solely of science and humanity, may be considered the
most wonderful production of the genius of man,—
displaying at once his civilization and advancement
in science and art, his elevated sentiments in the
religion which he practises, and the desire of doing good
which animates him; the polish of his manners, in
the justice and moderation of discipline; and his
energy and courage in the patriotism and devotion
which he is called to display.

have been conducted with zeal and fidelity; and within a period of about twenty years, Europe has been gradually covered with a network of triangles, embracing every corner of the land; upon this groundwork, by operations of another order, are delineated the courses of streams, chains of mountains, outlines of coasts, &c.; and topography furnished additional means of expressing the relief of all these different parts. Maps, thus constructed, afford a basis whereon to fix the extent and rights of territorial possessions, from the boundaries of a nation to those of the smallest farm. Civil engineers find there those grand inequalities of ground, a knowledge of which is necessary for their projects of roads and canals;-military engineers, those by which to determine a system of attack and defence, and the local administrations, the information required to carry on their various labors of public service.

UPON THE SEA:-The analogy existing with the land is perfect. The celebrated expeditions which had so honorably illustrated the close of the eighteenth century, had been able to execute their labors only on a scale of exactness commensurate with the state of the sciences at that period. It was known that several of their determinations required verification; that there were doubts to clear up; many discoveries to confirm or complete; that lands had only been visited, not explored; that some of the archipelagos were known only in their mass and not in detail; that every day brought with it through the commercial marine, knowledge of new islands and new isolated reefs, which were but indefinitely determined. It was perceived that every where navigation was deficient in good geographical positions, in places of refuge from tempests, and in ports for refitting; that everywhere it was

a great want of nautical information was felt.

Thus, with respect to the state of navigation, science and the arts, every thing was in readiness to resume with ardor the geographic investigations, and place the knowledge of the globe in a fitting relation with the wants and with the knowledge of the age. Govern-attended with doubt and danger, and that everywhere ments were well disposed, and men capable of carrying out the enterprises were not wanting. A state of war had been the means of founding brilliant schools of officers, of civil, military and marine engineers; it was a sound policy, to profit by the leisure of peace to obtain extended means of instruction, and keep in activity their bravery and intelligence.

Navigation, which had enriched science and the world at large, had the right to expect a return; it had a right to demand the construction of nautical charts, general and particular, of every sea, founded upon the best astronomical and hydrographical observations.

It was these considerations that induced those useful expeditions which have been carried on in our own time, in which the officers appointed to conduct them have been called upon to display at once the qualities of the sailor, the officer, the diplomatist, and the man of science and literature; with whom learned men are glad to associate themselves, to have an opportunity of personally observing the phenomena of natural and physical science, which till this time they had been able to study only in their quiet homes.

UPON LAND:-Some portions of continents remain still unexplored, and others have been visited only with difficulty. Long voyages have been made, and yet only a faint light breaks through the thick darkness that still overshadows large portions of Asia and of Africa. The nations of Europe were for a long time ignorant of their true respective limits, and the superficial extent of their possessions. Territorial property, public and private, was wanting in that accurate determination, which secures order and morality in society, by establishing England, France and Russia have entered this career, the rights of its members. The people demanded that interrupted at intervals, only to await a more favoracommunications for purposes of commerce should be ble opportunity, and to be renewed with ardor. Magopened, and that outlets for the products of the agricul-nificent works containing the results of these expedi tural and mechanic arts should be contrived. In order tions have been published, and form a rich addition to to accomplish these different objects of public interest, the library of the scholar; they delight our leisure, the necessity of one fundamental document is immedi- enlarge our ideas, and extend the empire of the world. ately recognised, this is, a map of the country; but a But the more brightly they merit our admiration and map mathematically exact, based upon astronomical gratitude, for the information already to be derived and geodesical observations, measures and calculations, from them, the more sensibly do we feel the want of on which should be delineated all the features of the what yet remains to be accomplished. Civilized nacountry, in the minutest details. The undertaking of tions are eager for new and positive knowledge, because these extensive works has been ordered at great expense; it is becoming indispensable to the development of their the operations, requiring great skill and information, education and of their institutions. In this respect, the

career so nobly commenced, will not be fully accomplished, till we see all those nations, whose interests and whose honor are concerned, entering frankly and heartily the lists of honorable emulation.

opening to his country the commerce of the seas, the pioneers of Virginia and Pennsylvania traverse the Alleghanies at all points, explore the valley of the west and pitch their tents upon the borders of the Missis sippi. By their efforts in settling the country, and indus try in developing its resources, they lay the foundation of an interior commerce through the unknown nations inhabiting the forests beyond the mighty river of the west.

Government has also lent its aid to this energetic and extraordinary spirit of enterprise, which is displaying itself upon every point of the national terri tory. Lewis and Clarke accomplish their memorable

From the period when the United States so gloriously achieved their independence, their attention has been fully occupied with their civil and political institutions, with the material wants of a growing community and with the means of promoting the development of their population over the vast extent of their possessions. An unprejudiced observer will not consider it then at all surprising, that they have been unable to devote themselves at once to the cultivation of the arts and sciences. But though circumstances have pre-journey from the Mississippi across the immense cluded their contributing in this way to the march of civilization, has it not received powerful assistance in other respects quite as essential? It would be unjust to deny it. It was by the American people that liberty has been revived and cherished: it is they who have demonstrated to the world its blessings! it is they who have taught, by the force of their example, how rapidly a nation, under the shelter of its ægis, may obtain the highest degree of prosperity, and how securely it may base those institutions which will ever be the dearest to humanity. They are not yet ready for all the refinements of older and more advanced nations, but a spirit of attention is already developing, and the first essay in a new track is now about to be made.

Scarcely was American liberty assured, when the flag of the republic was to be seen waving over every coast of Europe: in the Indies, and on the shores of China; a spirit of speculation and enterprise bore it over the two oceans, and into all the internal seas, rousing a languid commerce, multiplying the exchanges of continent with continent, and nation with nation; and under the auspices of a wise neutrality, becoming the carriers of contending nations.

American commerce, disappointed for a moment in the hopes it had founded upon Asia, as a market for the produce of their soil and industry, undismayed in its weary voyage, goes to seek on its remote northwestern coast, a substitute in the furs for which it would be sure to meet with a demand. These articles of exchange, though to the eye within an easy grasp of the American, were not all of them available; the most valuable, those of the wild regions of the western coast, were separated by a barrier hitherto deemed insurmountable; and while nature offered with one hand the tempting prize to the enterprise of the east, she pointed with the other to a weary and circuitous track of more than sixteen thousand miles, that must be traversed to procure it. But this difficulty could not arrest the enterprise of the American. He sets out on his long voyage, twice, coasting the continent of the new world-from north to south, and from south again to north, and penetrates the high latitudes of the western coast of his country, to seek there a medium wherewith to open a lucrative commerce with the empire of China. Upon his route, he harpoons the whale upon the coasts of Brazil, pursues it into the frozen regions of the Antarctic seas, and amidst the numberless shoals and reefs of the archipelagos of the Pacific ocean up to the most remote regions of the north where his prey takes refuge.

Whilst the hardy mariner of New England is thus

prairies watered by the Missouri, over the Rocky mountains, to the Pacific ocean. Major Pike and Major Long, in their successive expeditions, extend our knowledge of the far west, and commence its phy. sical geography; and the adventurous trader, following now the tracks of these celebrated travellers, arrives at Santa Fe, California, or the mouth of the Columbia, and there meets the whaling captain of the eastern merchant, who has despatched them both.

From this time, the ardent commercial enterprise of the Americans has been more and more displayed upon sea and land; seconded by a spirit of association, the advantages of which are so well appreciated, every channel of abundance and prosperity has been opened; public wealth has been considerably augmented; population has quintupled, the mercantile marine is inferior now only to one, and the United States have assumed a rank among the first nations in the world.

the

The people of the United States, after having strengthened their institutions and secured forever their nationality, could not fail to turn their attention to those great public improvements which characterize the civilization of the nineteenth century. And have they not acquired a right to some portion of national pride, when they contemplate what has been projected, and in part already executed, in their own country, of this character; when they see distinguished foreigners cross the ocean to examine and admire the vast system of internal communication and facilities of transport, which is extending with every day, new ramifications over new territories, where a new population is grow. ing up?

Experience is showing every day, that the Atlantic coast is but very imperfectly known, and that this want of knowledge is becoming more and more destructive to life and to property, in proportion as the relations between the two worlds become more intimate. There is but one remedy-to make a survey of the coast.

The necessity of such a measure is obvious, from its importance to the security of commerce and naviga tion, and the influence it will exert over the choice of a good system of defence for the maritime frontier; society will also reap the benefit of the instruction that will be received from it by men of talents, when they leave the high theoretical and practical school that this great measure must of necessity create.

The survey has been ordered, and for some years has been conducted upon a plan which leaves nothing to be desired, when compared with the most perfect works of the kind that have yet been executed. The liberality of the means is commensurate with the mag