May 1838. plans — future views. 283 



were at this time occupied by arrangements connected with 

 her, besides the usual routine observations. I was extremely 

 anxious to fit the schooner properly, and to set her to work, 

 but at the same time to keep all our other operations in active 

 progress. A decked boat was lying in Maldonado, just built, 

 which her owner, Don Francisco Aguilar, offered to lend me 

 for two months, if I would rig her for him, and this proposal 

 exactly suited my views, as it would enable me to send for 

 Lieutenant Wickham, and supply his place by Mr. Usbome, 

 leaving Mr. Stokes to continue the survey about San Bias and 

 the Colorado. Accordingly, the Constitucion, as this little 

 craft was named by her owner, was hauled alongside, and Mr. 

 Usborne with a party, set to work in preparing her for a trip 

 to the River Negro. On the 1st May Mr. Usborne sailed, 

 having with him Mr. Forsyth and five men ; he was to go 

 to the River Negro, join and assist Mr. Stokes, and inform 

 Lieutenant AVickham that he was wanted at Maldonado, to 

 take charge of the Adventure. The Constitucion was about 

 the size of the Liebre, a craft I should hardly have thought 

 fit for such a voyage had I not heard so much from Mr. Harris 

 and his companion, Roberts, of the capital weather those 

 decked boats make in a gale. With their hatches secured, tiller 

 unshipped, a storm try-sail — or no sail at all set, and nobody 

 on deck, they tumble about like hollow casks, without caring 

 for wind or sea. 



Next day (2d) the Beagle returned to Monte Video, to 

 procure carpenters, plank, and copper for the Adventure. I 

 found that she was so fine a vessel, and so sound, that it 

 was well worth while to copper her entirely afresh, with a 

 view to her future operations among islands in the Pacific, 

 where worms would soon eat through places on a vessel's bot- 

 tom from which sheets of copper had been torn away. At this 

 time the Adventure's copper was complete, but thin, and as 

 the carpenters said it would not last above two years more with 

 certainty, I determined to copper her forthwith, and make one 

 substantial refit do for all. Here, to my great regret, Mr. 



