APPENDIX. 383 
XIII. 
U. S. Ship Vincennes, 
At Sea, September 13th, 1838. 
Sir, 
As the officers may not understand the kind of journal it is 
necessary for them to keep, I take this occasion to make known the 
expectations of the government, and my wishes respecting this part 
of their duty, which I consider as paramount to all others. 
1st. The duties devolving upon all the officers of this Expedition 
are altogether of a public nature, (and it is incumbent on me to say) 
require of them to bestow their constant and devoted attention to all 
incidents, facts, or occurrences, which may present themselves, in 
order that hereafter they may (if necessary) verify or confirm by 
their testimony any information in relation to the same, and thereby 
place the evidence beyond a doubt. This can only be effected by 
keeping full and complete memoranda of all observations, made at 
the time, and entered in the journals. 
2d. I consider it of great importance, that every officer should 
know the actual situation of the ship, from his own calculations, that 
when called upon at any moment, he might be able to refer to his 
own journal for the results. On this might possibly depend the 
safety and ultimate success of the Expedition, as one or two might 
fall into error, but it is not likely that many would. 
3d. The kind of journal required is not a mere copy of the log- 
board, but it is a diary in which will be noticed all that relates to 
public information, being a record of all objects of interest, however 
small, which may take place during the cruise, in the scientific or 
any other department : and the views of the officer ought to be briefly 
expressed concerning things that may come under his notice. The 
very record that nothing has transpired during the day, may be of 
use ; but it is believed that this will be of rare occurrence. 
The whole will form a mass of evidence for the use of the govern- 
ment on our return, which will tend to illustrate and make clear the 
transactions and occurrences that may have taken place, as well as 
the habits, manners, customs, &c., of the natives, and the positions, 
descriptions, and character of such places as we may visit. 
These memoranda are highly essential to me, in order that nothing 
