124 
TERRA DEL FUEGO 
Immediately on our arrival at Orange Harbour, active preparations 
were made for a short cruise to the Antarctic. Although the season 
was late, I at least anticipated getting some experience among the ice, 
and I concluded that the lateness of the season would have allowed 
it to have detached itself from the shores of Palmer's Land, and 
would permit as near an approach as possible to its main body or 
barrier, in the vicinity of Cook's Ne Plus Ultra. 
Agreeably to my instructions, such disposition was made of the 
squadron as seemed best calculated to obtain the necessary results in 
the different departments. Captain Hudson, with the Peacock, and 
the Flying-Fish, under Lieutenant Walker, as a tender, were ordered 
to the westward, as far as the Ne Plus Ultra of Cook. I went in the 
Porpoise, Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, accompanied by the 
Sea-Gull, Lieutenant Johnson, to pass to the south, for the purpose if 
possible of exploring the southeast side of Palmer's Land, or, should 
an opportunity offer, of proceeding further south. The Relief, Lieu- 
tenant-Commandant Long, was ordered into the Straits of Magellan, 
through the Brecknock Passage and Cockburn's Sound, with part of 
the gentlemen of the scientific corps, in order to enlarge our field of 
operations. Mr. Peale volunteered to go south in the Peacock. 
The Vincennes was safely moored in Orange Harbour, and left 
under the charge of Lieutenant Craven, to carry on the investigations, 
surveys, &,c. &c. Messrs. Couthouy and Drayton, of the scientific 
