APPENDIX. 371 



the duty required of them ; and on sending some of them back, they 

 refused to receive them ; consequently I shall have to send them home, 

 or transfer them to the squadron on the Brazil coast, if Commodore 

 Nicolson will take them, and obtain others if possible. 



We shall be put to much inconvenience and delay at Rio de Janeiro, 

 where it will be necessary to repair and recalk the Peacock, as far as 

 possible to enable her to perform the cruise required; this will be 

 attended with much additional expense, and is another reason for 

 making a full representation of the facts, to be made use of as the 

 Department may see fit. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Most respectfully, &c, 



Charles Wilkes. 



Commanding Exploring- Expedition 

 To the Hon. Jas. K. Paulding, 



Secretary of the Navy 



U. S. Ship Peacock, 



Madeira, September 18th, 1838. 

 Sir, — 



In a verbal communication, a few days previous to leaving Hampton 

 Roads, I stated to you that I could point out many things that ought 

 to be done, or rather done over, on board this ship, particularly the 

 calking about the water-ways, sides of the ship, deck, &c, and that I 

 had no doubt the ship would make considerable water, when we got 

 to sea ; as the work enumerated would occupy some time, and to do it 

 conveniently we ought to go back to the yard, it was determined at 

 that interview (from the great desire of the Department, and in fad 

 the whole country, that the Exploring Squadron should get to sea, 

 as well as the injurious effects delay would have upon the officers and 

 men) that the squadron should get off the moment sailing orders were 

 received, and remedy as much as possible within our means, such 

 defects as might thereafter show themselves in the course of our 

 passage. 



Coinciding most fully in opinion with yourself, on that occasion, as 

 soon as I returned to the Peacock, I had an examination of our pump- 

 gear, and found but one set of boxes in the two forward pumps, which, 

 from their rusty and otherwise worn-out appearance, I was induced to* 

 believe had not been removed since her arrival in port. The pump- 

 gear had not yet come on board ; we immediately sent to the navy- 

 yard for it ; when it arrived, (the day before sailing,) the pumps were 

 tried, and appeared to work well : we found, however, two of the 

 pumps with half an inch less diameter or bore than the others ; this I 



