394 APPENDIX. 



XXV. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 

 Orange Harbour, Terra del Fuego, 

 February 22d, 1839. 

 Sir, — 



Although I am aware of the lateness of the season, and the risk to 

 be incurred in attempting to make any explorations within the Antarctic 

 Circle ; yet I am of the opinion that there are many advantages to be 

 derived from it, that will prove of incalculable benefit in any future 

 attempts we may hereafter make at the proper season. 



You will, therefore, with the Peacock and tender Flying-Fish, make 

 the attempt to carry out the following instructions. 



lsl. On sailing from this anchorage, you will proceed as far as the 

 Ne Plus Ultra of Captain Cook, in longitude 105° W., and from thence 

 you will extend your researches as far to the southward and eastward 

 as you can reach, without rendering yourself liable to be closed in by 

 the ice. 



2d. You will carefully note your daily positions on the skeleton 

 chart herewith, and trace upon it, by astronomical and tangent obser- 

 vations, (not by compass,) all the ice you may fall in with during the 

 cruise, whether island or field-ice. 



3d. You will navigate to the southward, and eastward until you 

 reach the western side of Palmer's or Graham's Land. 



4th. It is believed that the latter part of the summer will afford you 

 an opportunity of penetrating here farther south than has yet been 

 done, and possibly meet an extension of Palmer's Land, more to the 

 westward : if you should succeed, you will trace it to the eastward, 

 and return by the southern and eastern side of it, to this anchorage, 

 thus circumnavigating this land, unless you should receive further 

 information from me. 



5th. Herewith you will receive a dipping and intensity needle, with 

 which you will make observations on any floe of ice that may be 

 accessible. 



6th. In your progress to the eastward from Cook's Ne Plus Ultra, 

 105° W., you will endeavour to get more and more to the southward, 

 and to pass to the southward of the two small islands called Peter 1. 

 and Alexander, (the farthest land south discovered by the Russians in 

 1821,) and then fall in with what Briscoe denominated Graham's or 

 Palmer's Land, (its proper American name.) I am of the opinion tliat 

 it extends much farther to the southward and westward than v. here 

 Briscoe saw the Adelaide Mountains, and that the land stretches or 



