APPENDIX. 423 



GENERAL ORDER. 



Having received a strong application from all the officers of the 

 squadron, in behalf of the young officers lately engaged in a duel, and 

 believing that so remarkable a circumstance as the unanimous call of 

 all their seniors, with their pledges that the reputation of the Expedition 

 shall not suffer from the repetition of a like occurrence, and feeling 

 also assured as I do, that nothing of the kind will again occur during 

 the cruise, to cast a stigma upon the reputation of the squadron, and 

 believing that the Honourable the Secretary of the Navy, after a perusal 

 of all the documents in relation to this case, will coincide in my views, 

 and justify my proceedings, I have determined under all the circum- 

 stances to retain them in the squadron. 



Passed Midshipmen Lewis and Harrison, and Midshipmen Blair and 

 Henry, will therefore rejoin the Peacock forthwith. 



Charles Wilkes, 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 

 U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



Callao, June 23d, 1839. 



XXXIX. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



Callao, July 11th, 1839. 

 Sir — 



You will, on the arrival of the Sea-Gull at this port, proceed direct 

 to Matavai Bay, Tahiti, Society Islands, pursuing the following route. 



Steering a course that will take you in or about the longitude of 

 105° W., to the latitude of 20° S., which latitude you will pursue until 

 you fall in with the Low Archipelago, and continue thereon until you 

 reach the longitude of 134° W., where you will haul to the northward, 

 and make two islands, called by the English Minerva and Serle Island, 

 and by the French Clermont de Tonnerre : they are in about latitude 

 18° 32' S., longitude 136° W.,the latter, or Serle Island, in latitude 18° 

 05' S., longitude 137° W. The French and English differ as respects 

 the situation of this island. 



From thence you will stand again to the southward, passing in the 

 latitude of 20° S., to see if Turnbull's Island does exist : it is said to 

 be in latitude 20° 10' S., longitude 143° W. ; thence you will make 

 and run over San Pablo Isle, another doubtful one, in latitude 20° 

 S., and longitude 145° W., and from thence to Matavai Bay, where 

 you will find me, or letters with the American consul, directing your 

 further movements. 



