b ADMIRALTY INSTRUCTIONS. 



The following instructions were received by Cap- 

 tain Wickham, previous to our departure from 

 Woolwich, and under them I subsequently acted. 



" By the Commissioners for executing the office of 

 Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of 

 Great Britain and Ireland, ^c. 



"Whereas his Majesty's surveying vessel, 'Beagle,' 

 under your command, has been fitted out for the 

 purpose of exploring certain parts of the north-west 

 coast of New Holland, and of surveying the best 

 channels in the straits of Bass and Torres, you are 

 hereby required and directed, as soon as she shall be 

 in all respects ready, to repair to Plymouth Sound, 

 in order to obtain a chronometric departure from 

 the w^est end of the breakwater, and then to proceed, 

 with all convenient expedition, to Santa Cruz, in 

 Teneriffe. 



*' In the voyage there, you are to endeavour to 

 pass over the reputed site of the Eight Stones, 

 within the limits pointed out by our Hydrographer ; 

 but keeping a strict look out for any appearance of 

 discoloured water, and getting a few deep casts of 

 the lead. 



*' At Teneriffe you are to remain three days, for 

 the purpose of rating the chronometers, when you 

 are to make the best of your way to Bahia, in order 

 to replenish your water, and from thence to Simon's 

 Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope; where, having 



