APPENDIX. 461 



commander of the Expedition should find that it better suited his 

 convenience to charter a vessel to convey us to a rendezvous, and for 

 other purposes, I should not conceive that I had a voice in the 

 matter; but a direct proposition having already been made (with 

 which I have every reason to be satisfied), perhaps some expression 

 of opinion may be looked for on my part. 



I confess then freely that I have been actuated somewhat by selfish 

 considerations. A visit to New Zealand is a point which I have 

 more at heart than any other in these seas, and I conceive the time 

 allotted by no means too much to be employed between Australia, 

 New Zealand, and the Tonga Islands. Perhaps, if I had every 

 thing at my disposal, I should feel tempted to touch at some southern 

 point of New Zealand, before proceeding to the Bay of Islands ; but 

 there would be danger in this, both by land and water, besides the 

 risk of losing the main points of observation. Farther than this, I 

 should not think of attempting. I should therefore deprecate any 

 change of plan, which would lead to a change of destination, but of 

 course should not expect my individual voice to weigh against the 

 general good of the Expedition. 



Charles Pickering. 



To Charles Wilkes, Esq., 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 



VOL. II. 116 



