462 APPENDIX. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



At Sea, January 31st, 1840. 

 SlR, — 



In answer to your communication of to-day, addressed to the ward- 

 room officers, calling upon them for their opinion with regard to the 

 practicability of our prosecuting the desirable researches in these 

 latitudes, I am of opinion, with due regard to the report of the 

 medical officers, which you have submitted for our perusal, that it is 

 very desirable to ascertain the extent of the recently discovered land, 

 by another attempt to the westward ; provided, of course, this object 

 can be attained without further endangering the health of the crew. 



Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 



Charles Wilkes, Esq., 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 



(Signed) James Alden. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



At Sea, January 31st, 1840. 

 Sir, — 



In answer to your letter, with the report of the medical officers 

 enclosed, requesting the opinion of the ward-room officers of this ship, 

 as to the expediency under the present circumstances of prosecuting 

 our discoveries south at this time, I beg leave to state, that in my 

 opinion the report of all the medical officers of the ship, as to the 

 reduced condition of the crew, would be a sufficient reason for putting 

 back ; and, in addition, I would state other reasons which occur to me. 



We have been almost surrounded with drift-ice and ice-islands for 

 the last twenty-three days, and coasting along the barrier of field-ice, 

 which has rendered it impossible to penetrate further south in this 

 vicinity ; and, although gratifying it would be to land upon the 

 Antarctic Continent, I am not aware that any advantages to be 

 derived from it would be commensurate for the dangers it would be 

 necessary to incur ; and if the discovery of new land in these regions 

 is important, I consider it equally so that every precaution be taken to 

 communicate the same to others. 



Farther, in my opinion, the continuance of the severe gale which 

 we have encountered for the last five days, accompanied with sleet, 

 hail, and snow, and the necessity of keeping all hands on the watch, 

 owing to the thick weather, &c, and difficulty of navigating among 

 ice, makes it not only most dangerous, but, if necessary to be con- 

 tinued in, will render the watch officers and crew unfit for the arduous 



