162 APPENDIX. 



undersigned cannot entertain a doubt but that, when the true cir- 

 cumstances of the case shall have been communicated to the know- 

 ledge of the government of the united provinces of the Rio de la 

 Plata, that government will no longer call in question the right of 

 sovereignty which has been exercised by his Majesty, as undoubtedly 

 belonging to the CrovvTi of Great Britain. 



The undersigned requests, &c. 



(Signed) Palmerston. 



Foreign Office, January 8th, 1834. 



No. 18. 



By Robert Fitz-Roy, Commander of H. M. slooji " Beagle," off 

 Watchman Cape, on the coast of Patagonia, 22d January 1 834. 



You are hereby required and directed to proceed in his Majesty's 

 schooner. Adventure, under your command, to survey the Falldand 

 Islands. 



New Island appears to me an eligible place for beginning your 

 operations. 



Proceeding round the southern coasts, you will endeavour to meet 

 me, in Berkeley Sound, early in March. 



After meeting me, or after the twenty-fifth of March, you wUl 

 proceed to the northern shores of the Falkland Islands, and into Falk- 

 land Sound. 



If, after going round the islands, you have time enough to make 

 particular plans of any of the best harbours, you will do better than 

 I now anticipate. 



All that I think time and weather will allow you to accomplish is 

 a coast survey on a scale of one quarter of an inch to a mile of 

 latitude. 



You wiU time your departure from the Falklands, so as to meet 

 me at the west end of EUzabeth Island, in the Strait of Magalhaens, 

 on or before the first day of next June. 



R. F. 

 To Lieut. J. C. Wickham, 

 commanding H. B. M. schooner " Adventure." 



