The life of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, and of other distinguished American explorers : containing narratives of their researches and adventures in remote and interesting portions of the globe

Front matter

The Estate of Mark Seltzer

THE

LIFE

Preface

Geographical explorers and discoverers constitute a peculiar and distinct class of men ; and in many respects their qualities and achievements are homogeneous. Yet, rich as is our literature in historical and biographical works, there is no single volume extant which contains a collection of the lives of the most distinguished Americans of this description. The present writer has endeavored to supply this deficiency, to some extent, in the following pages ; and he has selected, as the subjects of his narrative, those individuals who seemed to him to be most remarkable in themselves and to possess the strongest hold on public interest and attention. In preparing this work, the author has appropriated to his use the most reliable sources of information which were accessible, without encroaching upon the rights of others; and an effort has been made to render the biographies as complete as the limits of a single volume would permit. These limits must be regarded as very circumscribed, when the amplitude and variety of the subject are taken into consideration; and hence the reader will observe

that, in several of the concluding sections of the volume,

PREFACE.

the strictly biographical form has been dropped; the more immaterial and obscure portions of the lives of the subjects of them are overlooked; and the narrative is confined to those events which are most important and histx)rical. As the adventures of Dr. Kane were in many respects more remarkable than those of his rivals, a corresponding prominence has been given to his memoirs, both in the work itself and in its title. Some of the heroes of the following pages are living, and some are dead. In regard to all of them the writer has spoken with impartial freedom and candor, without any reference to the approbation or the censure of those who might be interested in the subject.

The likeness of Dr. Kane contained in this volume, is taken from a full-length portrait published at great expense by the proprietors of the ISTew York Albion, as a premium to their subscribers. It is regarded by competent judges as the best portrait of its distinguished subject now extant, and as preserving the most accurate resemblance to his features and expression. The publisher of this volume has been permitted, by the liberality and courtesy of the proprietors of that valuable journal, to use this plate as far as was necessary for the present purpose.

S. M. S.

Philadelphia, November, 1857.

Contents

PAoa

Intboduction « 9

PAET 1.

ELISHA KENT KANE.

Chap. I. — ^Youth and Early Training of Dr. Kane 15 II. — Oriental Wanderings, Discoveries, and Perils 23

III. — Dr. Kane's Adventures in Mexico — Sketch of Arctic

Exploration 29

IV. — Dr. Kane's First Arctic Expedition — Scenes in Baffin's

Bay 39

V. — Adventures and Discoveries at Beechey Island 47

VI. — ^Winter Life in the Arctic Regions 65

VII. — Dr. Kane's Matrimonial Views — His Congressional

Patronage — His Unconquerable Enthusiasm 73

VIII. — Dr. Kane's Second Arctic Expedition 80

IX. — Researches and Adventures near the Pole 88

X. — Concluding Labors and Return of the Expedition 100

XL — Dr. Kane's Official Report of the Second Grinnell

Expedition... Ill

Xn.— Dr. Kane's Last Labors, Illness, and Death 127

Xni.— Obsequies of Dr. Kane — Estimate of his Character.... IBi l*r 5

CONTENTS.

PAET n.

JOHN CHARLES FREMONT.

FAOB

Chap. I. — Fremont's Youth and First Expedition 151

II. — Incidents of Fremont's Second Expedition 174

III. — Col. Fremont's Third Expedition, and its Results 186

IV. — Col. Fremont's Fourth Exploring Expedition 203

V. — Col. Fremont's Fifth Expedition and Political Honors 229

PAET m.

JOHN LEDYARD.

Chap. I. — Youth and Early Education of Ledyard 261

II. — ^Ledyard's Voyage with Capt. Cook around the World 269 III. — ^Adventures of Ledyard in France, Russia, and Siberia. 302

rV.— Further Adventures of Ledyard in Siberia 315

V. — Ledyard' s Expedition to Central Africa 321

PAET lY.

CHARLES WILKES.

Chap. I. — Purposes of the United States Exploring Expedition 330

II. — Explorations in the Southern Ocean and Chili... 335

III. — Explorations in Peru and the Paumoto Group 341

lY. — ^Researches at Tahiti, and Discovery of the Antarctic

Continent 352

V. — Termination of the Expedition — Controversy with Col.

Fremont 360

CONTENTS. 7

PAET V.

MATTHEW C. PERRY.

Chap. I. — Origin and Aims of the Expedition to Japan 365

II. — Public Interview between Com. Perry and the Imperial

Commissioners 877

III. — Establishment of a Commercial Treaty with the Ja-

panese Empire 385

IV. — Concluding Labors of Com. Perry in Japan and Lew

Chew 400