458 APPENDIX. 



XL 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



Sydney Cove, December 11th, 1839. 



Gentlemen, 



To prevent any misunderstanding relative to the conversation with 

 you on the 30th ultimo, I would state that it was not my intention to 

 make any proposition to you to leave the squadron, during our cruise 

 south, but to receive any suggestions that you might offer, after being 

 informed of our cruise, that might be considered more advantageous 

 to your departments than accompanying the squadron in the Antarc- 

 tic cruise. 



It is my intention to sail from this harbour on the 18th instant, 

 with all the vessels of the squadron, for the Antarctic Ocean. 



The vessels will be ordered to call at New Zealand in the spring, 

 and may be expected there in March or April, if they are not detained 

 by ice. 



I request that such of you as may wish orders to join the 

 squadron at New Zealand under these circumstances, will inform me 

 by letter. 



I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, 



(Signed) Charles Wilkes, 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 

 To the Gentlemen of the Scientific Corps. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



December 19th, 1839. 



Gentlemen, 



Agreeably to your application, you will remain on shore, and join 

 the squadron on the return of the Expedition, from the Antarctic 

 Ocean, at the Bay of Islands, by the 1st of March next. 



Y ou will, of course, employ yourselves as may be most conducive to 

 the interest of the Expedition, in New South Wales and New 

 Zealand, and will keep a minute journal, making all possible collec- 

 tions, and a full report to me in writing, of your observations and 

 duties. 



