Source: “Authorization of the Naval Exploring Expedition in the South Seas and Pacific Ocean, and of the Purchase of and Payment for Astronomical and Other Instruments for the Same”, 17 March 1830, American State Papers: Naval Affairs Vol. 3, pp. 546-560.
The United States Navy, for formula for the astronomical department, exploring expedition
To P. Burtsell & Son, Dr.
For two “Meteorological Journals,” medium paper, printed and ruled per pattern, and full bound, at $10 each. $20 00
Three books, “Clocks,” demy paper, printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $4 each. $12 00
Two books, “Chronometers Daily,” foolscap paper, printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $4 each. $8 00
One book, “Chronometers Weekly,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound 5 00
Two books, “Longitudes,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $4 each. $8 00
Two books, “Magnetic Variations,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $4 each. $8 00
Two books, “Transits,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $4 each. $8 00
One book, “Pendulum Coincidences,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound 6 00
Five books, “Observations,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $4 each. $20 00
Two books, “Transit Observations,” demy, printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $5 each. $10 00
Two books, “Repeating Circle,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $5 each. $10 00
Two books, “Lunar Observations,” printed and ruled per pattern, and bound, at $6 each. $12 00
$127.00
The American Philosophical Society recommended a selection of books for the voyage as early as October 1836:
List of Books, recommended to be taken on the Expedition for the use of the Officers and Scientific Corps.
Lord Anson’s Voyage round the World in H. M. S. Centurian [sic]. (1740.)
Beechey’s Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Beerings Straits &c. (1828.)
Bougainville’s Voyage round the World (Forsters translation) 1769.
Ellis’s Polynesian Researches, 1829.
Freycinet’s Narrative of a Voyage rd the World. 1820.
Kotsbue’s Voyage of Discory in the Sth Sea.
Morrell’s Narrative. Parry’s Journals in search of N.W. Passage.
Peron’s Voyage de decouvertes aux terres Australes.
Porter’s Narrative.
Yate’s New Zealand, 1835.
Bennett’s Wanderings in N. South Wales &c. 1834.
Tyerman’s Journal of Voyages and Travels &c. (South Sea Islands, China and India), 1831.
Weddell’s Voyage towards the South Pole. 1825.
Adanson’s Senegal.
Bennett’s New South Wales.
Chronological History of discoveries in the Sth Sea by Capt. Burney, R.N.
Desmarest’s Mammalogie.
Cuvier’s Animal Kingdom.
do Dents de Mammiferes.
Traite d’Ornitholoaie par R. P. Lesson.
Cuvier’s Histoire et Anatomie des Mollusques.
Dillwyms Catalogue of Shells.
Lumark’s [Lamarek’s] des Allimaux sans vertebres.
Latreille’s Histoire Nature. des Crustaces et des Insectes.
De la Beche’s Geological Manual.
De la Beche’s Theoretical Researches.
De la Beche’s How too observe Geology.
Lyell’s Principles of Geology.
Humbolt’s [Humboldt’s] Works.
McCulloch’s Classification of Rocks.
Dr. Danberry on Volcanos [sic].
Von Buck’s Work upon Volcanos [sic].
Elie de Baumont.
Transactions of the Geological Society of London.
Article, Geology in the Encyclopedia Metropolitana.
Besides the Standard Works on Mineralogy. In Silliman’s Journal, Vol. lst, page 71, and Vol. 3rd, page 249 useful instructions are to be seen relative to the choice and preservation of Geological Specimens.
These recommendations were gratefully received and were made a part of the detailed instructions issued to the Commander of the Expedition when it finally sailed in August 1838.
The same list of books is given in Titian Ramsay Peale, 1799-1885, and his Journals of the Wilkes Expedition, by Jessie Poesch. Philadelphia, Pa: American Philosophical Society, 1961. P. 125-26, footnote 1: “Peale and the other member of the Scientific Corps. had a small working library aboard ship. It is not clear whether these were part of the expedition’s equipment or whether they were the personal libraries of the men involved. Peale had some of his own books on board, all of which were lost in the wreck of the Peacock.
Source: Conklin, E. G. “Connection of the American Philosophical Society with our first national exploring expedition,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 82 no. 5 (1940) 537-38.
Library for U.S. Exploring Expedition [Recommended]
“APS item 402. List of books recommended to be taken on the Expedition [US Exploring Expedition 1838-42] for the Use of the Officers and Scientific Company. Oct. 17, 1836. 1 p. In APS Archives.” American Philosophical Society.
Transcript of Memo, possibly from Jeremiah Reynolds:
List of Books recom.d to be taken on the Expedition for the Use of the Officers, and Scientific Corps.
Lord Ansons voyage round the world in HMS Centurian (1740)
Beechey’s narrative of a voy to the Pacific of Berings Straits (1828
Bougainville’s voyage round the world (Forster’s translation) 1769
Ellis’s Polynesian researches 1829
F‘s narrative of a voyage around
Parrys Journals in search of a NW Passage
Pérouse voyage de decouvertes aux terres Australis.
Porters Narrative
Yates’s New Zealand? 1835
Barnetts Wanderings in N South Wales &c. 1884
Tyermanns Journal of Voyages &* Travels ( South sea Islands, China & B 1831)
Weddells voyage towards the South Pole. 1825.
Adamsons Senegal
Bennett’s New South Wales.
Chronological History of discoveries in the Sth sea by Capt Burney Ret
Dumarests Mammalogie.
Cuviers Animal Kingdom, 2d.
Dents etc Mammiferes
D’Ornithologie par R. P. Lasson.
Cuviers Historie et anatomie de Mollusques
Dillwynies Catalogue of Shells.
Lumork’s des Animaux sans vertebras
Latreille’s Histoire Natura des Crustaces et des Insectes.