APPENDIX. 497 



U. S. Ship Peacock, 



Sydney, New South Wales, 

 March 12th, 1840. 



Sir, 



The foregoing report was prepared for the Honourable Secretary of 

 the Navy, immediately after my arrival in port, but no conveyance 

 having offered, I take leave to address it to you as commander of the 

 squadron; availing myself of the occasion to add, that we fell in with 

 the first ice, on our passage south, in the latitude of 61° 32' S., longi- 

 tude 161° E., and made the barrier on the 15th of January, in the 

 latitude of 65° 53' S., longitude 159° E., and followed its trendings 

 as far as 67° S., and 150° E. 



Our compasses were at the time exceedingly sluggish, and gave no 

 evidence of the ship changing her position, unless kept in continual 

 agitation by shaking. 



Immediately after my arrival at this port, I commenced the repairs 

 of the Peacock, which are now so far advanced that I shall be ready 

 for such duties as you may assign me by the 25th of the present 

 month. 



The Peacock, as you have seen, has been considerably strained ; 

 and we have found on examination while repairing, that after her 

 gripe was beaten off, the ice had chafed the stem to within one inch 

 and a half of the wood-ends of the planking. 



I trust my efforts to carry out your orders, and the course I have 

 pursued in returning to Sydney, and expediting the repairs of the 

 ship, have been such as to meet your approbation, as well as that of 

 the Honourable Secretary of the Navy. 



I am, sir, yours, respectfully, 



(Signed) William L. Hudsox, 



Commander. 



Charles Wilkes, Esq., 



Com?na?iding Exploring Expedition. 



XXX. 



[Copy.] 



U. S. Brig Porpoise, 



Bay of Islands, New Zealand, 

 March 31st, 1840. 



Sir, 



I have great gratification in reporting my arrival at this place on 

 the night of the 26th instant, all in good health; and respectfully 



vol. ii. 125 



