520 APPENDIX. 



to him are herewith furnished for your guidance. Your endeavours 

 must be to impress them with the belief that they cannot commit these 

 acts with impunity. 



It is impossible to point out the mode by which you may most 

 readily succeed in these views; but it is believed, that the capture of 

 the principal chiefs would readily obtain the persons who have com- 

 mitted this crime, and, I doubt not, Opotuno himself. 



Hostile steps are to be avoided as much as possible ; and it is desi- 

 rable that this service should be performed without risking the lives of 

 those under your command. 



On Strong's Island there are very many rascals, who are continu- 

 ally plundering unarmed vessels. Any measures you may be able to 

 pursue to rid our commerce and whale-fishery from this evil, will be 

 sanctioned by me. 



I enclose you the journal of Captain Dowsett, of the schooner Vic- 

 toria, who was some time since left on the Pescadores. The accompa- 

 nying letters will give you all the information extant about them and 

 the schooner Waverley, sent on a shelling voyage, and believed now, 

 from information received, to be lying at Strong's Island. Any informa- 

 tion relative to her actual fate, or that of her crew, and that of Captains 

 Dowsett, Scott, and Cathcart, will be satisfactory to their friends. 



Guns were fired on the American schooner Honduras, at Strong's 

 Island, supposed by foreigners. You will investigate this matter, and 

 spike any guns that may be in the hands of foreigners. The natives 

 are said to be very friendly. 



It is generally supposed that the vessel was cut off by a set of des- 

 peradoes, who are now on Strong's Island, and who are a pest to every 

 vessel touching there. You will adopt such measures as the case may 

 seem to you to warrant. I need not say to you that it is desirable that 

 all and every kind of information respecting this group will be looked 

 for. I am, &c, 



Charles Wilkes, 



Captain Wm. L. Hudson, Commanding Exploring Expedition. 



U. S. Ship Peacock. 



IX. 



U. S. Ship Vineennes, 



At Sea, December 7th, 1840. 



To His Majesty Kamehameha III., 



King of the Sandwich Islands. 

 I have the honour to inform your Majesty, that, desiring to leave 

 the port of Honolulu on the 3d of December, and having notified the 



