ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 357 



cabin-floor : the water came through the seams forward in such quan- 

 tities as to wet every bed and article of clothing on the berth-deck. 

 This was a great addition to the labour and discomfort of the crew, 

 now reduced by sickness to four men, and the strength of these much 

 impaired by previous sickness, excessive labour, and almost constant 

 exposure. To relieve their situation as much as possible, Lieutenant 

 Pinkney ordered them to make use of the cabin in common with the 

 officers. To ease the pitching of the vessel, a quantity of coal was 

 shifted aft ; but although this was a partial relief, yet as she had too 

 much sail on her, which they had been unable to reduce at the com- 

 mencement of the gale, it was not sufficient to make her easy. 



On the 5th, the gale began to abate, when the crew, through one of 

 their number, presented a communication to Lieutenant Pinkney, of 

 which the following is a copy. 



(copy.) 

 "We, the undersigned, the crew of the Schooner Flying-Fish, w T ish to 

 let you know that we are in a most deplorable condition: the bed- 

 clothes are all wet ; we have no place to lie down in ; we have not had 

 a dry stitch of clothes for seven days ; four of our number are very 

 sick ; and we, the few remaining number, can hold out no longer ; we 

 hope you will take it into consideration, and relieve us from what must 

 terminate in our death. 



(Signed) A. Murray. Thomas Darling. 



John Anderson. James Daniels. 

 F. Beale. Joseph. 



James Darling. John H. Weaver. 

 To Lieutenant Pinkney, 



U. S. Schooner Flying-Fish. 



On the receipt of this appeal, Lieutenant Pinkney addressed an order 

 to the officers, a copy of which follows. 



U. S. Schooner Flying-Fish, 

 Lat. 66° S., long. 143° E., Feb. 5th, 1840. 

 Gentlemen, — 



You will furnish me with your opinion, and the reasons which 

 induced that opinion, of the propriety of any longer endeavouring to 

 accomplish that part of the accompanying order, which refers to pene- 

 trating to the south. 



I am, respectfully, &c, 



R. F. Pinkney, 

 To Acting Master George T. Sinclair. Lieutenant-Commandant 



Passed Midshipman William May. 

 Passed Midshipman GeoPvGE W. Harrison. 



