APPENDIX. 461 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



At Sea, January 31st, 1840. 



Sir, — 



I have received your letter of this date, restoring me to duty, 

 enclosing a report of the assistant-surgeons of this ship, and directing 

 me after due examination and consultation relative to the health and 

 condition of the crew, to report to you in writing my opinion in 

 regard to the same. 



In obedience to that order, I respectfully report that, in my opinion, 

 the health of the crew is materially affected by the severe fatigue, 

 want of sleep, and exposure to the weather, to which they have lately 

 been subjected ; that a continuance of these hardships, even for a very 

 short period, will entirely disqualify a great number of men for their 

 duty ; and that the necessary attention to the health of the crew, and 

 their future efficiency and usefulness, demand the immediate return of 

 the ship to a mild climate. 



I am, very respectfully, 



Edward Gilchrist, 

 Charles Wilkes, Esq., Acting Surgeon. 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



At Sea, January 31st, J 840. 

 Sir,— 



In answer to your letter of this date, enclosing the report of the 

 medical officers on the present state of the health of the crew, and 

 requesting the opinion of the ward-room officers, as to the expediency 

 of pushing farther south under the present circumstances, we would 

 state, that, in our opinion, it would be as well to hold on until to- 

 morrow at meridian, in order, should the weather then prove more 

 favourable, to attempt making the recently discovered land at another 

 point ; but that on a material increase of the sick-list, or continuance 

 of the present bad weather beyond the above period, we should run to 

 the northward. We are, very respectfully, 



Your obedient servants, 



(Signed) Overton Carr, 



First Lieutenant 

 A. Ludlow Case, 

 Joseph A. Underwood, 



Lieutenants. 

 Edmund H. De Haven. 

 Samuel R. Knox, 

 To Charles Wilkes, Esq., Acting Masters 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 

 VOL. 11. 20 58 



