378 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



as to reach the cabin-floor : the water came through the seams 

 forward in such quantities as to wet every bed and article of clothing 

 on the berth-deck. This was a great addition to the labour and dis- 

 comfort of the crew, now reduced by sickness to four men, and the 

 strength of these much impaired by previous sickness, excessive 

 labour, and almost constant exposure. To relieve their situation as 

 much as possible, Lieutenant Pinkney ordered them to make use of 

 the cabin in common with the officers. To ease the pitching of the 

 vessel, a quantity of coal was shifted aft; but although this was a 

 partial relief, yet as she had too much sail on her, which they had 

 been unable to reduce at the commencement of the gale, it was not 

 sufficient to make her easy. 



On the 5th, the gale began to abate, when the crew, through one 

 of their number, presented a communication to Lieutenant Pinkney, 

 of which the following is a copy. 



(copy.) 

 We, the undersigned, the crew of the Schooner Flying-Fish, wish 

 to let you know that we are in a most deplorable condition : the bed- 

 clothes are all wet ; we have no place to lie down in ; we have not had 

 a dry stitch of clothes for seven days ; four of our number are very 

 sick ; and we, the few remaining number, can hold out no longer ; we 

 hope 3 r ou will take it into consideration, and relieve us from what 

 must terminate in our death. 



(Signed) A. Murray. Thomas Darling. 



John Anderson. James Daniels. 

 F. Beale. Joseph. 



James Darling. John H. Weaver. 

 To Lieutenant Pinkney, 



U. S. Schooner Flying-Fish. 



On the receipt of this appeal, Lieutenant Pinkney addressed an 

 order to the officers, a copy of which follows. 



U. S. Schooner Flying-Fish, 

 Lat. 66° S., long. 143° E., Feb. 5th, 1840. 



Gentlemen, — 



You will furnish me with your opinion, and the reasons which 

 induced that opinion, of the propriety of any longer endeavouring to 



