PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION. 55 



understood that Mr. Bennett was to meet all expenses, 

 while the Government was to have all the authority. 



Captain De Long was thus acting under the direction 

 of the Secretary, while he was also Mr. Bennett's finan- 

 cial agent, and the situation called for the constant ex- 

 ercise of judgment, that the expedition might neither 

 fail of anything that should make its equipment com- 

 plete, nor be a source of needless expense to the gen- 

 erous patron. From the day when the Jeannette 

 dropped anchor in the bay of San Francisco till the 

 day, six months later, when she weighed anchor for 

 her final voyage, the commander's care was incessant. 

 His watchfulness was comprehensive and minute ; no 

 detail escaped him, and he laid his plans broadly and 

 firmly. He had constant need to exercise tact and 

 persistence, and devoted himself unweariedly to secure 

 the best interests of the expedition. 



His first concern was to see that the ship was in the 

 best condition for the voyage. The Department had 

 ordered an examination of the Jeannette by a Board 

 of Survey, and on the 24th of January Captain De 

 Long wrote a full report of their proceedings to Mr. 

 Bennett, and added the result of his own careful and 

 minute examination. His intimate knowledge of the 

 ship, as she was when she left the hands of her former 

 owner, and his acquaintance with the improvements 

 then made, followed by his experience in bringing her 

 round to San Francisco, enabled him to understand 

 thoroughly what further was necessary to make her 

 ready for her northern voyage. The final decision as 

 to her outfit rested with the Secretary of the Navy, 

 and Captain De Long suggested, therefore, that it would 

 be expedient for him to consult with him before the 

 final orders were given. He was accordingly ordered 



