THE NARRATIVE OF CHARLES WILKES. 427 
This was a great addition to the labour and discomfort of the crew, 
now reduced by sickness to four men, and the strength of these much 
impaired by previous sickness, excessive labour, and almost constant 
exposure. To relieve their situation as much as possible, Lieutenant 
Pinkney ordered them to make use of the cabin in common with the 
officers. To ease the pitching of the vessel, a quantity of coal was 
shifted aft; but although this was a partial relief, yet as she had too 
much sail on her, which they had been unable to reduce at the com- 
mencement of the gale, it was not sufficient to make her easy. 
On the 5th the gale began to abate, when the crew, through one of 
their number, presented a communication to Lieutenant Pinkney, of 
which the following is a copy. 
( Copy.) 
‘“‘We, the undersigned, the crew of the schooner Flying-Fish, wish to 
let you know that we are in a most deplorable condition : the bedclothes 
are all wet; we have no place to lie down in; we have not had a dry 
stitch of clothes for seven days; four of our number are very sick; and 
we, the few remaining number, can hold out no longer; we hope you 
will take it into consideration, and relieve us from what must terminate 
in our death. 
(Signed) A. Murray. Tuomas Dar.ine. 
JoHN ANDERSON. JAMES DANIELS. 
F. Brae. JOSEPH. 
James DARLING. Joun H. Weaver. 
“To Lieutenant PINKNEY, 
U.S. Schooner Flying Fish.” 
On the receipt of this appeal, Lieutenant Pinkney addressed an order 
to the officers, a copy of which follows. 
U.S. Schooner Flying-Fish, 
Lat. 66° S., long. 143° E., Feb. 5th, 1840. 
“Gentlemen,—You will furnish me with your opinion, and the 
reasons which induced that opinion, of the propriety of any longer 
endeavouring to accomplish that part of the accompanying order, which 
refers to penetrating to the south. 
T am respectfully, etc., 
R. F. Pinkney, 
Lieutenant-Commandant. 
“To Acting Master Gzorce T. Sincbair. 
Passed Midshipman WiLiiam May. 
Passed Midshipman GrorcE W. Harrison. 
