862 EXPEDITION TOWARD THE NORTH POLE. 



toward the NortliPole, using your own judgmeut as to the route or 

 routes to be pursued aud the locality for each "u inter's quarters. Having 

 been provisioned and equipped for two and a half years, you^Yill pursue 

 your explorations for that period j but, should the object of the expedi- 

 tion require it, you will continue j^our explorations to such a further 

 length of time as your supplies maybe safely extended. Should, how- 

 ever, the main object of the expedition, viz, attaining the position of the 

 North Pole, be accomplished at an earlier period, you will return to the 

 United States with all convenient dispatch. 



There being attached to the expedition a scientific department, its 

 operations are i)rescribed in accordance with the advice of the National 

 Academy of Sciences, as required by the law. Agreeably to this advice, 

 the charge and direction of the scientific operations will be intrusted, 

 under your command, to Doctor Emil Bessels; and you will render Dr. 

 Bessels and his assistants all such facilities and aids as may be in your 

 power to carry into eflect the said further advice, as given in the in- 

 structions herewith furnished in a communication from the president of 

 the National Academy of Sciences. It is, however, important that ob- 

 jects of natural history, ethnology, &c., &c., which may be collected by 

 any person attached to the expedition, shall be delivered to the chief 

 of the scientific department, to be cared for by him, under your direc- 

 tion, and considered the property of the Government; and every 

 person be strictly prohibited from keeping any such object. You 

 will direct every qualified person in the expedition to keep a private 

 journal of the progress of the expedition, and enter on it events, obser- 

 vations, and remarks, of any nature whatsoever. These journals shall 

 be considered confidential aud read by no person other than the writer. 

 Of these journals no copy shall be made. Upon the return of the ex- 

 pedition you will demand of each of the writers his journal, which it is 

 hereby ordered he shall deliver to you. Each M'riter is to be assured 

 that when the records of the expedition are published he shall receive 

 a copy; the private journal to be returned to the writer, or not, at the 

 option of the Government; but each writer, in the published records, 

 shall receive credit for such part or parts of his journal as maybe used 

 in said records. You will use every opportunity to determine the posi 

 tion of all capes, headlands, islands, &c., the lines of coasts, take sound- 

 ings, observe tides and currents, and make all such surveys as may 

 advance our knowledge of the geography of the Arctic regions. 



You will give special written directions to the sailing and ice master 

 of the expedition, INIr. S. O. Buddiugton, and to the chief of the scientific 

 department, Dr. E. Bessels, that in case of your death or disability — a 

 contingency w^e sincerely trust may not arise — they shall consult as to 

 the propriety and manner of carrying into further effect the foregoing 

 instructions, which I here urge must, if possible, be done. The results 

 of their consultations, and the reasons therefor, must be put iu writing, 

 and kept as part of the records of tlie expedition. In any event, how- 



