SAILING OEDEES. 



Admiralty, 25th May, 1875. 



Sir, — Her Majesty's Government having determined that an 

 expedition of Arctic exploration and discovery should be under- 

 taken, My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have been 

 pleased to select you for the command of the said expedition, the 

 scope and primary object of which should be to attain the highest 

 northern latitude, and, if possible, to reach the North Pole, and 

 from winter quarters to explore the adjacent coasts within the 

 reach of travelling parties, the limits of ship navigation being con- 

 fined within about the meridians of 20° and 90° west longitude. 



2. Her Majesty's ships ' Alert ' and ' Discovery ' having bsen 

 specially fitted out for this service, I am commanded by their 

 Lordships to signify their direction to you, so soon as the said 

 vessels shall be in all respects equipped and ready, to take the 

 ' Discovery ' under your orders, and put to sea with both vessels, 

 calling at Queenstown to complete with coal, or sending in the 

 ' Valorous ' (which will accompany the expedition to Disco), for 

 that purpose if more convenient, proceeding thence to Disco, in 

 Davis Strait, and northwards by way of Baffin's Bay and Smith's 

 Sound, to carry out the special service of discovery and exploration 

 with which you have been entrusted. 



3. Her Majesty's ship ' Valorous ' will receive on board extra 

 coal and stores, &c, for the expedition, and will be available for 

 towing when requisite. Captain Loftus Jones has been directed 

 to consider himself under your orders temporarily, and after tran- 

 shipping stores, &c. at Disco, he is to return to Devonport in the 



Valorous ' in final execution of his orders. 



4. The ' Alert ' and ' Discovery ' after leaving Disco should 

 proceed to the settlements of Proven and TJpernivik for dogs, 



/- 



