Opis: Narrative of the United States' - Wilkes Charles

Excerpt from Narrative of the United States': Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842

The expedition, a narrative of the operation of which is now laid before the public, was the first, and is still the only one stated 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 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 ma 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 fe

Szczegóły: Narrative of the United States' - Wilkes Charles

Nazwa: Narrative of the United States' Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Wilkes Charles
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331576167
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 386
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: Narrative of the United States' - Wilkes Charles