INTRODUCTION*. THE expedition, a narrative of the operations of which is now laid before the public, was the first, and is still the only one fitted out by national munificence for scientific objects, that has ever left our shores. Whatever others are disposed to think, I am inclined to believe, that the originating, getting up, and getting off a first national expedition, is a work of no small difficulty, and this is much increased by the public thinking, talking of, and interfering too much with it. I felt this myself, although it did not cause me much difficulty. The very state of things that brought the expedition into general disrepute, was of great advantage to me, for I was left to perform my duties unmolested. In the following narrative, it may perhaps be necessary to state, that although our time was limited to a few days at some of the places we visited, yet the number of officers and gentlemen engaged under my command, enabled me to have every thing worthy of notice examined. The result of our observations, I am satisfied, will give a faithful representation of the countries and islands, during the period of our visit. I received every facility for obtaining information from our consuls, as well as from missionaries and American residents abroad. Some of them furnished me with interesting documents, connected with the past and present state of the countries where they reside, and procured from the different governments many valuable official papers. Indeed, the facilities met with have evinced a desire in all to further the undertaking with which I was charged. To the Governor of New South Wales, Sir George Gipps, my acknowledgments are particularly due, for his generous liberality in ordering me to be furnished by the Colonial Secretary with all the documents published, not only at the time of our visit, but since. The latter have been kindly forwarded by our consul, J. H. Williams, Esq., to whom the expedition is also greatly indebted. From all these documents I have been enabled to draw much valuable information, which I hope will be interesting to the general reader, as well as useful to our interests abroad. The reader who shall look to this narrative for my version of the developments which were elicited by the proceedings of the courts-martial, will be disappointed. I shall make no allusions that I can possibly avoid, to any of the subjects of a personal character that came before tribunals, after the return of the expedition; nor will the following narrative embrace any personal matters or difficulties that may have taken place with the officers, for the reason that I do not regard such details as relevant or interesting to the general reader. The attempts to throw impediments in my way were unsuccessful, and I fully believe, that from whatever motive they may have arisen, those who caused them are now desirous that they should be forgotten. My countrymen will see that my duties were sufficiently arduous without having other difficulties to contend with, and I have the gratification of feeling that those duties have been performed, and the results fairly obtained. The performance of these duties is the best refutation that can be given to the many mis-statements that have been circulated to the prejudice of the expedition, but which, I trust, will now be set at rest. I have never had any personal feeling in the matter, except that which naturally arises from the wish to overcome all impediments, of whatever nature they might be. I can, therefore, have no desire but to give the true version of every circumstance of a public nature that may concern the expedition, and I hope that I shall be able to do it with impartiality and justice, touching as lightly as possible on the faults of individuals, and bestowing praise wherever it is justly due. I was called upon, in a few cases, to exercise the means in my possession to punish aggressions. Yet my aim has been throughout the cruise, so to conduct the duties devolving upon the squadron, that it would carry with it the force of moral principle. All the regulations and operations were made to tend to this end. I considered this as one of my first duties, and in it I have been well supported by Captain Hudson and Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, and by most of the officers of the expedition. I feel great satisfaction in having received testimonials from the different missionaries, that my course has been fully appreciated by them. Indeed, I have reason to rejoice that I have been enabled to carry the moral influence of our country to every quarter of the globe where our flag has waved, and I trust that the expedition will compare advantageously with any other that has preceded it, in its moral and correct deportment. WASHINGTON CITY, November, 1844. CHARLES WILKES. * Prefixed to the edition in five volumes, imperial 8vo., printed at Philadelphia in 1845. LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN ATTACHED TO THE UNITED STATES' EXPLORING EXPEDITION. CHARLES WILKES, ESQ., THOMAS T. CRAVEN, ROBERT E. JOHNSON, JAMES ALDEN, WILLIAM L. MAURY, J. L. ELLIOTT, J. L. Fox, J. S. WHITTLE, GEORGE M. TOTTEN, JOSEPH P. SANDFORD, GEORGE W. CLARK, SAMUEL ELLIOTT, Lieutenant. Acting Master. Acting Surgeon. Chaplain. Assistant Surgeon. Left at Valparaiso, June 6th, 1839, to take command of the Sea-Gull. Joined brig Porpoise at San Francisco, October, 1841. Joined Peacock at Orange Bay, and Porpoise at Callao. Detached at Sydney, March, 1840. Detached at San Francisco, October, 1841. Joined Porpoise at San Francisco, October, 1841. Assistant Surgeon. Joined Peacock at Honolulu, and Vincennes again at San Francisco. Passed Midshipman. Joined Peacock, 1839, and Flying-Fish at Honolulu, 1840, and Por- Passed Midshipman. Joined Flying-Fish on a cruise south, 1839-40, and Vincennes again, Passed Midshipman. Joined Porpoise at Tahiti, schooner Flying-Fish at San Francisco, Midshipman. Midshipman. Boatswain. Gunner. Joined Peacock at Tahiti, and Vincennes again at San Francisco. Joined Relief at Callao. Joined Relief at Callao. THOMAS A. Budd, J. F. SICKLES, WILLIAM SPIEDEN, SILAS HOLMES, WRECKED JULY 18TH, 1841. Joined Vincennes at San Francisco. Detached at Orange Bay, February, 1839. Commanded Flying-Fish first cruise, joined Porpoise at Columbia Joined Vincennes at San Francisco. Joined Vincennes at Feejee. Joined Relief at Callao. Joined Oregon at Columbia River. Assistant Surgeon. Joined Porpoise at Sydney, and Oregon at San Francisco. Passed Midshipman. Joined Vincennes at Feejee. Passed Midshipman. Joined Flying-Fish on cruise south, Peacock at Feejee, and Oregon Midshipman. Gunner. Carpenter. Purser's Steward. at Columbia River. Joined Vincennes at Callao, killed July 24th, 1840, at Malolo. Joined Porpoise at Columbia River, and Vincennes at San Francisco. Joined Porpoise at Columbia River, and Oregon at San Francisco. Detached at Callao. Joined Oregon at Columbia River. Joined Porpoise at Columbia River. Detached at Callao. Lieutenant-Commandant. Lieutenant. Lieutenant. Lieutenant. Acting Master. Acting Surgeon. Joined Peacock at Orange Bay, Flying-Fish at Callao, and detached at Honolulu, 1840. Joined Vincennes at Callao. Joined Vincennes at Callao, and killed at Malolo, July 24th, 1840. Joined Peacock at Callao, and Oregon at Columbia River, and Vin- Passed Midshipman. Joined Peacock at Callao, and Vincennes at Columbia River, and WILLIAM RICH, ALFRED T. AGATE, CADWALADER RINGGOLD, M. G. L. CLAIBORNE, A. S. BALDWIN, C. F. B. GUILLOU, SIMON F. BLUNT, UNITED STATES' BRIG PORPOISE. Lieutenant Commandant. Lieutenant. Lieutenant. Lieutenant. Acting Master. Assistant Surgeon. Joined Peacock at Callao, and Oregon at Columbia River. Passed Midshipman. Joined Vincennes at Orange Bay, and left sick at Honolulu, in April, 1841. GEORGE W. COLVOCORESSIS, Passed Midshipman. Joined Peacock at Rio, Vincennes at Feejee, and Oregon at San XXXII. De Fuca's Straits and Loss of the Peacock XXXIII. Cruise of the Peacock and Flying-Fish from Oahu to the Bar of the |