2d Session.

EXPLORING EXPEDITION.

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

The information required by a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 3d instant, in relation to the progress which has been made with regard to the exploring expedition, authorized at the last session of Congress.

FEBRUARY 8, 1837.

Committed to a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the3d instant, I herewith transmit the report of the Secretary of the Navy, which affords all the information required by said resolution. The President begs leave to add, that he trusts that all facilities will be given to this exploring expedition that Congress can bestow, and the honor of the nation demands.

WASHINGTON, February 6, 1837.

ANDREW JACKSON.

NAVY DEPARTMENT

February 6, 1837.

SIR: In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives, calling for information as to the progress which has been made in the arrangements for the surveying and exploring expedition, authorized at the last session of Congress, and of the objects and measures to which said expedition is to be devoted, &c., and which, on the 4th instant, you referred to this department, I have the honor to state that, in my annual report of the 3d of December last, I gave a brief outline of the progress that had been made in the arrangements for this expedition, up to that time, which may be found in Document No. 2, of the House of Representatives, pages 444, '5, and '6; Blair & Rives, printers.

together with a report of the Commissioners of the Navy of the measures which had been taken to carry the same into effect, and an estimate of the amount that will be required for the support of the frigate Macedonian, the store-ship Relief, the two barques Pioneer and Consort, and the schooner Pilot, to be employed on this expedition, for one year; which report and estimate may be found in pages 484 and 485, of the same document.

The resolution referred, requires further information than was contained in my report; as also what progress has since been made in these arrange

ments.

The great objects of this expedition, as understood by this department, are, to explore the seas of the southern hemisphere, more particularly in the high latitudes, and in regions as near to the pole as may be approached without danger; to make, in the regions thus to be explored, all practicable surveys and observations, with accurate descriptions of the same, connected with geography or hydrography, by which the interests of commerce and navigation may be promoted; and to make all such researches as the opportunities of the expedition will afford, to advance all branches of science which have attracted the attention of the Governments of Europe in fitting out vessels for survey and discovery.

In the beginning of July last, your wishes to carry into effect, to their full extent, the views of Congress in authorizing this expedition, induced you to make it a subject of immediate consideration and action.

Captain Thomas Ap C. Jones was selected to take command of the expedition. The offer to take this command was made to him, and accepted on his part.

The confidence placed in this officer, which led to his selection for this important command, seemed to require that he should be consulted as to the number and size of the vessels, and of the amount of force of which his squadron was to consist; and that great consideration should be given to his opinion on this subject, more especially as he was to be held in a high degree responsible for the success of the expedition.

He was of opinion that one frigate of the second class, one store-ship, two barques, and one schooner, were indispensably necessary to the success of this object.

In accordance with this opinion, the most prompt measures were adopted for preparing and fitting for sea the vessels required.

The letter of the Navy Commissioners, hereto annexed, marked A, will show the progress made in preparing those vessels, their size. names, and expense of the same, as nearly as can be now ascertained; and an estimate of the annual expense of such vessels, with the complements of officers and others, as furnished by this department, and an aggregate amount of such expense for three years-the term to which it is proposed to limit the crusie of the squadron.

Captain Jones was instructed to visit the different navy yards in which the vessels for his squadron were to be built and prepared, and to make such suggestions as he should think proper as to the manner of building and preparing the same, and to which the commandants of the yards were directed to conform.

His agency in this will appear by his letter hereunto annexed, marked B: As, at the time of passing the act authorizing this expedition, it was necessary to take immediate measures for relieving our squadrons on the Pacific and Brazilian stations, as well as to send to the Gulf of Mexico a