26 



MEMOEANDUM. 



16° S. The deep sea-line should be kept in motion ; and if 

 soundings be obtained, the bank should be pursued both ways, 

 out to the edge, and in to that part already known. 



" Its actual extent to the eastward, and its connection with 

 the shoals being thus ascertained, its further investigation may 

 be left to more convenient opportunities. 



'' At Rio de Janeiro, the time necessary for watering, &c. 

 will, no doubt, be employed by the commander in every species 

 of observation that can assist in deciding the longitude of Vil- 

 legagnon Island. 



" It is understood that a French Expedition is now engaged 

 in the examination of the coast between St. Catherine''s and 

 the Rio de la Plata ; it would therefore be a waste of means 

 to interfere with that interval ; and Commander Fitz-Roy 

 should be directed to proceed to Monte Video, and to rate 

 his chronometers in the same situation occupied by Captain 

 King. 



" To the southward of the Rio de la Plata, the real work of 

 the survey will begin. Of that great extent of coast which 

 reaches from Cape St. Antonio to St. George's bay, we only 

 know that it is inaccurately placed, and that it contains some 

 large rivers, which rise at the other side of the continent, and 

 some good harbours, which are undoubtedly worth a minute 

 examination. Much of it, however, from the casual accounts 

 of the Spaniards, seems to offer but little interest either to 

 navigation or commerce, and will scarcely require more than 

 to have its direction laid down correctly, and its prominent 

 points fixed. It should nevertheless be borne in mind there, 

 and in other places, that the more hopeless and forbidding any 

 long line of coast may be, the more precious becomes the 

 discovery of a port which affords safe anchorage and whole- 

 some refreshments. 



" The portions of the coast which seem to require particu- 

 lar examination are — 



" 1st. From Monte Hermoso to the Rio Colorado, including 

 the large inlet of Bahia Blanco, of which there are three manu- 

 scripts in this office that differ in every thing but in name. 



