APPENDIX. 387 
for making a full representation of the facts, to be made use of as the 
Department may see fit. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Most respectfully, &c, 
Charles Wilkes, 
Commanding Exploring Expedition. 
To the Hon. Jas. K. Paulding, 
Secretary of t/w Navy. 
U. S. Ship Peacock, 
Madeira, September 18th, 1838. 
Sir, 
In a verbal communication, a few days previous to leaving Hampton 
Roads, I stated to you that I could point out many things that ought 
to be done, or rather done over, on board this ship, particularly the 
caulking about the water-ways, sides of the ship, deck, &c, and that 
I had no doubt the ship would make considerable water, when we 
got to sea ; as the work enumerated would occupy some time, and to 
do it conveniently we ought to go back to the yard, it was determined 
at that interview (that from the great desire of the Department, and 
in fact the whole country, that the Exploring Squadron should get 
to sea, as well as the injurious effects delay would have upon the 
officers and men) that the squadron should get off the moment sailing 
orders were received, and remedy as much as possible within our 
means, such defects as might thereafter show themselves in the 
course of our passage. 
Coinciding most fully in opinion with yourself, on that occasion, 
as soon as I returned to the Peacock, I had an examination of our 
pump-gear, and found but one set of boxes in the two forward pumps, 
which, from their rusty and otherwise worn-out appearance, I was 
induced to believe had not been removed since her arrival in port. 
The pump-gear had not yet come on board : we immediately sent to 
the navy-yard for it: when it arrived (the day before sailing,) the 
pumps w T ere tried, and appeared to work well ; we found, however, 
two of the pumps with half an inch less diameter or bore than the 
others ; this I consider a defect, for two reasons : first, the small ones 
not discharging as much water as the large ; secondly, having to use 
pump-boxes of different sizes in the same ship, where from accident 
to one set, the other cannot be used to make up the deficiency ; as 
the sequel proved, the ship leaked considerably the moment we got a 
breeze which drove us through the sea ; not only through her water- 
