552 APPENDIX 



P. S. I have placed a magnetic apparatus and needle in charge of 

 Mr. Eld, with which he will make observations every fifty or sixty 

 miles on your route. 



You will give Mr. Rodgers an order on me for the amount due 

 him, and inform him that his services are no longer required by you. 



I am, respectfully, &c, 



(Signed) Charles Wilkes, 



Commanding Exploring JExpeditio?i. 



Lieutenant G. F. Emmons, 



U. S. Navy. 



V. 



U. S. Brig Porpoise, 



Columbia River, Oct. 2d, 1841. 



Dear Sir, 



Being obliged from the lateness of the season to abandon the inten- 

 tion I had of using the launch of the late United States ship Peacock 

 for the exploration of the coast to the southward of this river, I have 

 thought that I could not possibly place her to a better use than by 

 leaving her as a pilot-boat for communication with vessels off the 

 dangerous bar of this river, and to afford relief, by giving pilots and 

 assistance to those that are coming in, or in cases of accident. 



It was my intention to have spoken to you on the subject before I 

 left Vancouver ; but, among the many duties that occupied my atten- 

 tion, it was forgotten. 



I have spoken to Mr. Burnie in relation to taking the launch in 

 charge for that purpose, but he has referred me to you, as he did not 

 feel authorized to assume the responsibility of acting for the Company. 



I will now state in a few words the charge I wish the Honourable 

 Hudson Bay Company to assume, viz. : 



That the launch be kept at Fort George, under the special charge 

 of the agent of the Hudson Bay Company, for the sole purpose of 

 affording aid and relief to all vessels requiring assistance of any kind, 

 and to furnish pilots for entering the river, until called for by some 

 person authorized by me or the government of the United States, to 

 receive her. 



In making this request, I am well aware of the desire the Honourable 

 Hudson Bay Company and its officers have always shown to do 



