242 DIFFICULTIES—PREPARATIONS. June 1829. 
Skyring was to be on board his own vessel, the Beagle, it 
would be incurring considerable responsibility, to order a new 
piece of service to be undertaken, which might not be successful ; 
and would require officers, men, a boat, provisions, and stores 
from the Beagle. 
“ T did not doubt that the measure would be approved by 
Captain King, because he had discussed the feasibility of such 
a plan with me, and had expressed a wish that it should be 
tried; but as I had not received any orders, I could not decide 
without anxiety. 
«* Another, though a minor difficulty, arose from sending 
Lieutenant Skyring in command of the Adelaide, over Lieute- 
nant Graves, her proper commander, who had expected to take 
her to Childe, and was quite competent to undertake this or 
any other service in which she might be employed. Both these 
officers excelled in their professional duties ; but Skyring had 
been on the western coasts of Patagonia before, and was the 
senior. 
“ Much to the credit of Lieutenant Graves, he removed one 
weight, by volunteering to go any where I thought proper to 
direct, either alone or with Lieutenant Skyring, and the neces- 
sary orders were forthwith given. (See Appendix). Mr. Kirke 
was again to form one of their party, as well as Mr. Bynoe, 
who exchanged temporarily with Mr. Park. The Beagle’s 
whale-boat was also lent, with five able seamen to man her; and 
good care was taken that nothing the ship could give should 
be wanting in their outfit for a service which, at that time of 
year, must be severe and tedious. 
« Anchors and cables, hawsers and kedges, were abun- 
dantly supplied, because in warping into unknown places, or 
anchoring hastily, many an anchor is unavoidably broken or 
lost. i 
“ The boat’s crew, who had been away with the Adelaide, 
and were going in her again, were supplied with extra clothing 
at the expense of Government, the wear and tear of their clothes 
having been far beyond what they could be expected to make 
good out of their pay. 
