276 ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. [1840 



ties or embarrassments should balk them in the execution 

 of the enterprise which they had so much at heart. 



All the preparations that were possible having been made, 

 sails were set and anchors hove up, and on the 26th of De- 

 cember the entire squadron stood out to sea. The scientific 

 corps were left at Sydney, with orders, after completing their 

 researches in New South Wales, to proceed to the Bay of 

 Islands, in New Zealand, which was fixed upon as the ren- 

 dezvous for the squadron, on their return from the Antarctic* 



For several days after leaving Sydney, the weather was 

 very fine ; the sea was remarkably phosphorescent ; the tem- 

 perature of the air was mild ; and the favoring wind, that 

 came in gentle puffs, and distended the bellying sails just 

 enough to display the beauty of their graceful outlines, 

 seemed to speak of a softer and balmier atmosphere than that 

 of the bleak and frozen solitudes to which the vessels 

 were rapidly hurrying, like birds on the wing. Availing 

 themselves of the opportunity thus afforded, all hands on 

 board were actively employed in building hurricane houses 

 around the hatches, and calking and chinsing the seams and 

 openings, so as to keep the cabins warm and dry ; it being 

 designed to maintain an even temperature of about 50°, in- 

 side the vessels, throughout the cruise. 



On the night of the 1st of January, 1840, the wind fresh- 

 ened, and the weather came on thick and misty. Before 

 morning, the tender separated from the rest of the squadron, 

 and was unable to come up with them again. She cruised 

 about for upwards of a month, visiting meanwhile Macquarrie 

 and Emerald islands, and on the 5th of February com- 

 menced her return voyage to the Bay of Islands, where she 

 arrived on the 9th of March. 



* Before the departure of the squadron from Sydney, the scientific corps re- 

 quested permission of Captain Wilkes to charter a small vessel, in which, dur- 

 ing his absence, they might survey and examine some of the interesting and 

 important islands in the vicinity. For some reason, which, as the commander 

 vouchsafed no explanation, seems to have lieen both arbitrarily and unwisely 

 adopted, no notice was taken of their communication. 



