No elaborate résumé of the doings of the scientific explorers of the Navy can be given here. The exploring expedition of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, with the sloops _Vincennes_ and _Peacock_, the brig _Porpoise_, the store-ship _Relief_, and the tenders _Sea-gull_ and _Flying Fish_, was the most pretentious. It was authorized in 1836, and was directed chiefly to the extreme South, but some work was done among the islands of the Pacific. A number of thick quarto volumes give the reports of officers and specialists, but only people engaged in a scientific study of nature ever fully appreciated the great value of the work done. Lieutenant J. M. Gilliss, assisted by Lieutenant Archibald MacRea, Acting-Master S. L. Phelps, and Captain’s Clerk E. R. Smith, were members of a “United States Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere” in 1849–52. There was an exploring expedition in the Parana in the steamer _Water Witch_, which was fired on by the Paraguyan dictator, and the event compelled a show of force, later on, in order to teach the people there to respect the flag. An exploration of the Dead Sea was made by Lieutenant William Francis Lynch, in 1848. In 1850 Lieutenant Edwin J. De Haven sailed from New York with the brigs _Rescue_ and _Advance_, in search of the remains of Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer. A proper relation of what was accomplished by these and other expeditions of the kind would fill a large and most interesting work. But it may be said here that only a cursory examination of the reports of the officers making them is needed to show not only that the naval officers were fitted for the work in hand, but that the work accomplished was in its influence upon humanity in general, as well as upon the American nation, well worth its cost. [Illustration: Commodore’s Pennant, 1812–1860. _From a pennant at the Naval Institute, Annapolis._] [Illustration: The U. S. Brig _Porpoise_ in a Squall. _From a picture drawn and engraved by W. J. Bennett, in 1844._] [Illustration: The U. S. Frigate _Hudson_ Returning from a Cruise, with a Fair Wind.] APPENDIX NAVAL CALLS From the Station Bills of the U. S. Ship _Concord_ during her cruise in the Mediterranean, 1830–1832, Captain M. C. Perry, Commander. _From the original volume at the Naval Academy, Annapolis._ [Illustration: BUGLE CALLS CALL FOR DRUMS & FIFE BAND CALLS] [Illustration: CALL 1st CUTTER] [Illustration: CALL ALLIGATOR CALL SHARK] [Illustration: CALL LAUNCH] [Illustration: BOATS CREW CALL 1st GIG CALL ARIEL] [Illustration: MORNING CALL EVENING CALL] [Illustration: LAST CALL CALL TO QUARTERS] INDEX _Abby Bradford_, merchant-ship, capture of, by the _Sumter_, iv. 412; captured by the frigate _Powhatan_, 413. _Abellino_, Yankee privateer, captures prizes in the Mediterranean, iii. 343. _Acasta_, British gun-boat, attacks the _Constitution_, iii. 260.