330 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



notwithstanding this, the condition of the crew is more imperative, 

 much more so in this, our recommendation, for a return to the north- 

 ward ; in fact, we would cheerfully continue to the southward, if we 

 had a proper crew. 



Lastly, understanding that the crew, through one of their body, have 

 waited upon you, and, by written application, also stated their inability 

 to live through these hardships much longer, and begging your return. 

 We are, respectfully, your obedient servants, 



(Signed) George T. Sinclair, 



Acting Master. 



William May, 

 George W. Harrison, 



Passed Midshipmen. 



Lieut. Com. R. F. Pinkney, 



Commanding U. S. Schooner Flying-Fish. 



Lieutenant Pinkney, in accordance with this opinion, and his own 

 conviction of the necessity of an immediate return to milder lati- 

 tudes, as the only means of restoring the sick, and preserving those 

 on duty, who were then incapable of managing the vessel without 

 the assistance of the officers, deemed it his duty to steer for the north, 

 which he accordingly did. 



The 6th and 7th continued thick, with occasional squalls. On the 

 8th, the weather again broke up, when they had several hours of sun- 

 shine, which proved of great benefit to the sick. Lieutenant Pinkney 

 was enabled to come again on deck, who had scarcely been able to quit 

 his berth since leaving Macquarie Island, from sickness. They had 

 reached the longitude of 139° 45' E., latitude 61° S. At 11 p. m. 

 the aurora was seen ; it was first visible in the southeast quarter, in 

 spots resembling pale moonlight, extending to the zenith, from whence 

 it diverged in rays, some of which reached the horizon, but the greatest 

 number terminated at an altitude of twenty -five or thirty degrees. On 

 the 9th, the aurora was also seen in the west, in vertical rays of pale 

 yellow light, commencing about five degrees above the horizon, and 

 extending to an altitude of thirty degrees. After a short time it dis- 

 appeared, and was again seen in the zenith, radiating in lines to the 

 northeast and west, reaching to within ten degrees of the horizon. 

 The wind was from the southward. Temperature 34°. The follow- 

 ing five days they had thick weather, and nothing occurred until the 

 evening of the 14th, when they again had a display of the aurora 

 the coruscations were frequent and brilliant, but did not exhibit any 



