view of those who were witnesses of this dreadful catastrophe, must of necessity be very feeble. "The morning of the 17th of December, 1835, opened upon New York with a scene of devastation around, sufficient to dismay the stoutest heart. The fine range of buildings and splendid stores in Exchange place, Merchant street, and all the adjoining streets down to the river, lay literally levelled to the earth, with their contents consumed; the Merchant's Exchange and post-office entirely destroyed-the whole one heap of smoking ruins. "A tolerably correct idea of the extent of the devastation may be formed from the following account, which appeared the next morning in the Courier and Enquirer.' 66 "South street is burned down from Wall street to Coenties slip. Front street is burned down from Wall street to Coenties slip. Pearl street is burned down from Wall street to Coenties alley, and was there stopped by blowing up a building. Stone-street is burned down from William street to No. 32 on the one side, and No. 39 on the other. Beaver street is burned down halfway to Broad street. Exchange place is burned down from Hanover street to within three doors of Broad street; here the flames were stopped by blowing up a house. William street is burned down from Wall-street to South street, both sides of the way. Wall street is burned down on the liam street to South street, with the 55, 57, 59, 61, opposite this office. alleys within the above limits are destroyed. Market house down. south side, from Wilexception of 51, 53, All the streets and "The following will be found a tolerably accurate statement of the number of houses and stores now levelled with the ground: 26 on Wall street, 37 on South street, 80 on Front street, 62 on Exchange place, 44 on William street, 16 on Coenties slip, 3 on Hanover square, 20 on Gouverneur's lane, 20 on Cuyler's alley, 79 on Pearl street, 76 on Water street, 16 on Hanover street, 31 on Exchange street, 33 on Old slip, 40 on Stone street, 23 on Beaver street, 10 on Jones' lane, 38 on Mill street: total 674. "Six hundred and seventy-four tenements. By far the greater part in the occupancy of our largest shipping and wholesale drygood merchants, and filled with the richest products of every portion of the globe. Of the Merchant's Exchange nothing but its marble walls remain standing. "Three or four vessels lying at the wharfs on Sonta street, were slightly injured in their yards and rigging. They were all hauled out into the river as soon as practicable. "A detachment of marines from the navy yard under Lieutenant Reynolds, and of sailors under Captain Mix of the navy, arrived on the spot at two o'clock in the morning. They rendered most valuable service. The gunpowder brought from the magazine at Red Hook was partly under their charge. "The cold during the whole time was excessive; the thermometer at zero. It may be easily supposed that this greatly paralyzed the exertion of the firemen. One sank under its effects, and was with difficulty resuscitated. Two companies with their engines arrived here from Newark, and rendered very material assistance. "The passengers in a steamboat coming down the river, saw the flames from the Highlands, forty-five miles distant, and such was the violence of the gale, during the prevalence of the fire, that burning embers were carried across the East river to Brooklyn and set fire to the roof of a house there, which was however speedily extinguished. 666 "Strong bodies of cavalry and volunteer infantry were patrolling the streets near the fire, and preserved perfect order for the purpose of preventing depredations.'' 134. Captain Wilkes' Exploring Expedition. The first expedition fitted out by the United States, at the national expense, for scientific objects, was that under the command of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes who was appointed to the command, March 20 1838. The ves sels appointed for this service were the sloops of war Vincennes and Peacock, the brig Porpoise, and the store-ship Relief. The tenders Sea-Gull and Flying Fish were subsequently added. The Expedition left Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, August 18, 1838. After an absence of nearly four years in various parts of the globe, Lieut. Wilkes arrived at New York, on board the Vincennes, on the 10th of June, 1842. The following is an outline of the instructions given Lieut. Wilkes by the Navy Department, as to the places to be visited, viz.: First, he was to shape his course to Rio Janeiro, where he was directed to replenish his supplies; thence to make a particular examination of the Rio Negro, which falls into the South Atlantic; thence to a safe port in Terra del Fuego; here the larger vessels were to be left, while the Porpoise and tenders were directed to explore the southern Antarctic. On the rejoining of the vessels at Terra Del Fuego, the squadron was directed to stretch southward and westward to longitude 1050 W., and return northward to Valparaiso, where a store-ship would meet them in March, 1839. From this port they were to shape their course to the Navigators' Group, and thence to the Feejee Islands, where they were to select a safe harbor for vessels of the United States. From these islands the squadron was directed to proceed to the port of Sidney (New Holland), and thence make a second attempt to penetrate within the Antarctic region, south of Van Dieman's Land. From this place they were to rendezvous at Kerguelen's Land, or the Isle of Desolation, from which they were to proceed to the Sandwich Islands, where a storeship from the United States with provisions would meet them in April, 1840. From the Sandwich Islands, the Expedition was to proceed to the northwest coast of America, where they were directed to make surveys along the territory of the United States, and afterwards along the coast of California. From this coast, they were directed to proceed to that of Japan, where they were to make an examination of the Sea of Sooloo, or Mindoro. After this examination they were to proceed to the Straits of Sunda, |