14 Thomas Henry lluxlcy 



powers to Captain Stanley to carry out the details of 

 his mission according to his own judgment, but he was 

 solemnly warned upon two points. Many very un- 

 fortunate casualties had occurred when sailors came in 

 contact with the little-known savages of the southern 

 seas, and the Admiralty instructed him as follows : 



" In stretching off from the Barrier Reefs to the eastward, in 

 order to explore the safety of the sea intervening between 

 them and Ivouisiade and New Guinea, you will have occasion to 

 approach these shores, in which case you must constantly be 

 on your guard against the treacherous disposition of their in- 

 habitants. All barter for refreshments must be conducted 

 under the eye of an officer, and every pains be taken to avoid 

 giving any just cause of offence to their prejudices, especially 

 with respect to their women." 



The second warning concerned grave international 

 matters. European politics were in the unsettled con- 

 dition which, after the illusive international courtesies 

 of the Great Exhibition of 1851, ended in the Crimean 

 War, and it was feared that in the event of hostilities 

 breaking out, the zeal of the officers for their country 

 might tempt them to transcend their peaceful occupa- 

 tion. The instructions with regard to this ran as 

 follows : 



"In the eveut of this country being involved in hostilities 

 during your absence, you will take care never to be surprised ; 

 but you are to refrain from any act of aggression towards the 

 vessels or settlements of any nation with which we may be at 

 war, as expeditions employed on behalf of discovery and science 

 have always been considered by all civilised communities as 

 acting under a general safeguard." 



The great scientific expeditions sent out in recent 

 times by the governments of Britain, Germany, and the 



