. INSTRUCTIONS. 
Navy Department, 
August 11th, 1838. 
Sir, 
The Congress of the United States, having in view the important 
interests of our commerce embarked in the whale-fisheries, and other 
adventures in the great Southern Ocean, by an Act of the 18th of 
May, 1836, authorized an Expedition to be fitted out for the purpose 
of exploring and surveying that sea, as well to determine the existence 
of all doubtful islands and shoals, as to discover and accurately fix 
the position of those which lie in or near the track of our vessels in 
that quarter, and may have escaped the observation of scientific navi- 
gators. Liberal appropriations have been made for the attainment of 
these objects, and the President, reposing great confidence in your 
courage, capacity, and zeal, has appointed you to the command of the 
Expedition, requiring you to proceed to the performance of the duties 
of that station with the vessels placed under your orders, consisting of 
the sloops of war Vincennes and Peacock, the ship Relief, the brig 
Porpoise, and tenders Sea-Gull and Flying-Fish. 
As soon as these vessels are in every respect ready, you will accord- 
ingly take your departure from Norfolk, and shape your course to Rio 
Janeiro, crossing the line between longitude 18° and 22° W., and 
keeping within those meridians to about latitude 10° S., with a view 
to determine the existence of certain vigias or shoals laid down in the 
charts as doubtful, and whose position, should they be found to exist, 
it is deemed useful to the interests of our commerce to ascertain. 
