110 



DECISION RESPONSIBILITY. 



Sept. 



alarming to contemplate. I might run along the outer line of 

 danger in the Beagle, and connect it with the soundings in 

 the offing ; but how could an English ship surveying a fre- 

 quented coast overlook six large ports,* only because their 

 examination required time, and was dangerous ? At last, after 

 much anxious deliberation, I decided to hire two small schooners 

 — or rather decked boats, schooner-rigged — from Mr. Harris, 

 and employ them in assisting the Beagle and her boats. Mr. 

 Harris was to be in the larger, as pilot to Lieutenant Wick- 

 ham — and his friend Mr. Roberts, also settled at Del Carmen, 

 on the river Negro, was to be Mr. Stokes's pilot in the smaller 

 vessel. These small craft, of fifteen and nine tons respec- 

 tively, guided by their owners, who had for years frequented 

 this complication of banks, harbours, and tides, seemed to me 

 capable of fulfilling the desired object — under command of 

 such steady and able heads as the officers mentioned — with 

 this great advantage ; that, while the Beagle might be procur- 

 ing supplies at Monte Video, going with the Fuegians on her 

 first trip to the southward, and visiting the Falkland islands, 

 the survey of all those intricacies between Blanco Bay and 

 San Bias might be carried on steadily during the finest time 

 of year. One serious difficulty, that of my not being autho- 

 rized to hire or purchase assistance on account of the Govern- 

 ment, I did not then dwell upon, for I was anxious and 

 eager, and, it has proved, too sanguine. I made an agree- 

 ment with Mr. Harris, on my own individual responsibility, 

 for such payment as seemed to be fair compensation for his 

 stipulated services, and I did hope that if the results of these 

 arrangements should turn out well, I should stand excused 

 for having presumed to act so freely, and should be reim- 

 bursed for the sum laid out, which I could so ill spare. However, 

 I foresaw and was willing to run the risk, and now console 

 myself for this, and other subsequent mortifications, by the 

 reflection that the service entrusted to me did not suffer. 



* Blanco Bay and Port Belgrano, False Bay, Green Bay, Brightman 

 Inlet, Union Bay, and San Bias Bay. 

 t See Appendix. 



