xviii 



INTRODUCTION. 



removed into the other, and with her, singly, to 

 proceed in prosecution of the service, or return to 

 England, according as circumstances shall appear to 

 require ; understanding that the officers and crews 

 of both vessels are hereby authorized, and required, 

 to continvie to perform their duties, according to 

 their respective ranks and stations, on board either 

 vessel to which they may be so removed. Should, 

 unfortunately, your own vessel be the one disabled, 

 you are in that case to take the command of the 

 Beagle: and, in the event of any fatal accident hap- 

 pening to yourself; Captain Stokes is hereby au- 

 thorized to take the command of the Expedition ; 

 either on board the Adventure, or Beagle, as he 

 may prefer ; placing the officer of the Expedition 

 who may then be next in seniority to him, in com- 

 mand of the second vessel : also, in the event of 

 your inability, by sickness or otherwise, at any 

 period of this service, to continue to carry the 

 Instructions into execution, you are to transfer them 

 to Captain Stokes, or to the surviving officer then 

 next in command to you, who is hereby required to 

 execute them, in the best manner he can, for the 

 attainment of the object in view. 



" When you shall have completed the service, or 

 shall, from any cause, be induced to give it up ; you 

 will return to Spithead with all convenient expedi- 

 tion ; and report your arrival, and proceedings, to 

 our Secretary, for our information. 



