258 APPENDIX. 



tides and soundings, with clear sailing directions, and with 

 its dangers well distinguished by any sea-marks that can be 

 adopted, will be a real boon to the mariner. 



These several objects above stated you are to consider 

 as the main purport of the expedition under your command, 

 and to those all others must give way; but as you will 

 occasionally have to seek for wood and water, and as some 

 seasons may be unfavourable to your rapid progress in those 

 quarters, and a change of scene therefore desirable, you are 

 to consider the field of your operations, as comprising the 

 southern shore of New Guinea, and the south-western coasts 

 and islands of Louisiade, and (if necessary for a magnetic 

 station) the western side of New Caledonia. But wherever 

 you go, we expect you to produce full and faithful surveys 

 of the parts and places you visit, and we especially desire 

 you not to waste your time and means in what are called 

 running surveys, in which much work is apparently exe- 

 cuted, but no accurate knowledge obtained, useful either to 

 the mariner or the geographer. Whatever you do is to be 

 done effectually. As we have not defined the order in 

 which you are to undertake the several branches of the 

 survey which have been enumerated, so neither shall we 

 limit the periods at which you are to return to refit and 

 re-victual at Sydney, being satisfied that your zeal will be 

 properly tempered by discretion, and that your arrangements 

 will be dictated, not only by the great objects in view, but 

 the health and comfort of the crews. We desire, however, 

 that with prudent foresight, you will forward to our Secre- 

 tary timely application for such supplies as may be requisite 

 for the efficiency of the vessels under your command. 



As you have stated, that during a former voyage you 

 remarked a more than ordinary population on the coast of 

 New South Wales, about the latitude of 20°, from which 

 you inferred a large tract of fertile soil, perhaps traversed 



