Final disposition of the squadron. CAAr TVR MPTSPn Tn TWAXTTTTA part company. Search for Q11 

 The Viucennes and Flying-Fish ^AN iUAJNCIbLO IO MANILLA. islands. 



making use of detraction to create a bias against 

 others. 



On the afternoon of the 27th November, we re- 

 joined our vessels, and at 8 P.M. took our final leave 

 of the Hawaiian Islands. 



At midnight, signal was made to heave-to, in 

 order that I might finish the instructions for the 

 different vessels. Although it was out of my power 

 to visit Japan, I had determined if possible to as- 

 certain the character of the currents off that island. 

 I therefore directed the Porpoise and Oregon to 

 follow out, and explore the shoals and reefs extend- 

 ing in a west-north-west direction from the Ha- 

 waiian Islands, and proceed until they fell in with 

 the current or stream that is supposed by some to 

 set along the coasts of Japan, and resemble the 

 Gulf Stream off our own coast. This done, they 

 were ordered to proceed through the China Seas, 

 to Singapore, in the Straits of Malacca. 



With the Vincennes and tender it was my inten- 

 tion to proceed to Strong's and Ascension Islands, 

 which the Peacock had been unable to reach in her 

 cruise, examining every shoal that might lie in my 

 way, and thence to Manilla. I proposed on leaving 

 that port to explore and survey the Sooloo Archi- 

 pelago, then proceeding to Singapore to meet the 

 brigs, fill up with provisions, and thence sail for the 

 United States, where it was incumbent on me to 

 arrive by the 31st of May following. This, agree- 

 ably to my promise to my crew a year previous, 

 left me just six months to perform the duty, of 

 which at least one hundred and forty days were re- 

 quired for the actual passage. 



We parted company from the brigs the next day 

 at noon, and bore away under all sail to the south- 

 ward and westward. At 4 P.M., the Flying-Fish 

 made the signal "in want of assistance;" and on 

 coming within hail, reported that her mainmast 

 was sprung. Carpenters were at once sent on 

 board, who reported that the mast was quite sound : 

 the vessels were reduced to easy sail for the night 

 in order to keep in company, as I intended in the 

 morning, when the sea should have decreased, to 

 have a farther examination of it. 



I had now the prospect of another obstacle, in 

 the delays this vessel must occasion rne with a 

 sprung mast, if such should prove to be the case, 

 which I could, however, scarcely bring myself to 

 believe. In order to secure an examination of the 

 Sooloo Sea, which was a part of my original in- 

 structions, I gave Mr. Kuox orders to act by him- 

 self, in case I should find it necessary to push at 

 once to Manilla and avoid detention, directing him 

 to touch at Strong's and Ascension Islands, and to 

 part company if her spars were sound. This I was 

 glad to find was the case, and on the 30th, we 

 parted company in the latitude of Maloon's Island, 

 the Vincennes steering a west course through the 

 night under easy sail. At daylight sail was again 

 made, and by noon we found the ship, by good ob- 

 servations, in latitude 19 19' N., longitude 165 

 25' W. The supposed position of the island being 

 in latitude 19 20' N., and longitude 165 20' W., 

 we had consequently passed directly over the place, 

 with the weather so clear as to render all objects 

 within a radius of fifteen miles perfectly distinct, 

 and with two look-outs at the masthead, yet no signs 

 of land were visible. I continued in its latitude 

 until we had passed seventy miles to the westward, 

 when we steered for another island, laid down in 



Arrowsmith's charts in longitude 166 48' W., and 

 latitude 19 17' N. On its parallel, we ran for 

 sixty miles east and west of the assigned place; but 

 in like manner, there was nothing perceived that 

 indicated any proximity to land. 



On the 3rd of December, we ran over the locality 

 of a shoal, lying in 170 30' W., and latitude 18 

 20' N. This was likewise searched for, over a 

 space of sixty miles east and west of its supposed 

 locality. 



Jane's Island, supposed to be in longitude 173 

 15' W., latitude 16 10' N., was next searched for. 

 In doing this, I was greatly surprised to find that 

 we had entered a strong current setting to the north- 

 ward and westward. Our difference of latitude 

 showed 24', and we were at once compelled to haul 

 up to the southward, to reach the supposed locality 

 of the island. We passed about five miles to the 

 westward of its place, but no sign of land was seen. 

 This was the first day since leaving Oahu, that we 

 were able to write with any degree of comfort, the 

 sea having become perfectly smooth. 



I was at first disposed to doubt the accuracy of 

 the observations for latitude, but the next day 

 (5th December) proved them to be correct, nearly 

 the same difference having occurred. 



On the 6th, we reached the position of Gaspar 

 Island, in latitude 15 N., and as the different 

 localities assigned it varied considerably in longi- 

 tude, I determined to run on its parallel until I 

 had passed them all. 



On the 7th, we dropped a day, passing into east 

 longitude. Our winds had become light, varying 

 from the east to the south-west quarters, and it 

 was generally calm throughout the night, so that 

 we made little progress. 



On the 10th, the current was found setting west- 

 south-west three-quarters of a mile, both by the 

 difference of the observations, and the current-log. 

 The pot, at this time, was seen at thirty-two fathoms 

 depth, several fathoms lower than at any previous 

 observation. The temperature of the water was 

 81, the day fine, and beautifully clear. 



We continued on the parallel of latitude 15 N. 

 until the 14th, when we found ourselves in the 

 longitude of 174 50' E., having passed over all the 

 localities assigned the island, between longitude 

 175 W. and 174 20' E. I am fully satisfied that 

 it does not exist within those meridians. 



Having been thus retarded, the fear I enter- 

 tained of meeting with light, and in all probability, 

 westerly winds, determined me to forego my visit 

 to Strong's and Ascension Islands, and haul to the 

 northward, to look for some of the many shoals 

 laid down on the track usually pursued by ships 

 bound to the China Seas. 



After this determination was made, I hauled up 

 for an island said to exist in longitude 171 42' E., 

 and latitude 16 N. On the night of the 15ih we 

 hove-to, in order to run over the locality by day- 

 light. This position was passed over, and forty 

 miles to the westward of it explored, but nothing 

 indicating a proximity to land was seen. The sup- 

 posed site of Cornwallis Island, in longitude 169 

 33' E., and latitude 16 51' N., was in like manner 

 passed over. 



Wake's Island next claimed my attention. On 

 the 19th we reached its parallel, and hove-to till 

 daylight of the 20th, when we discovered it, bear- 

 ing west-by-north, about nine miles distant. The 



