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CHAPTER V. 
Dec EMBER 3, — Mr. Duncan had most obligingly ordered one of 
the Company's vessels, the Mornington, to be prepared to convey 
me to Bussorah, whither I had determined to proceed, when all 
my plans were changed by the arrival of dispatches from the 
Governor General, recommending a continuation of the survey of 
the Red Sea, and at the same time delicately hinting, that I might 
possibly be induced to make an attempt to complete what I had so 
well begun. On receiving from Mr. Duncan assurances that every 
arrangement should be made for the immediate departure of the 
vessel to be employed, and that I should be permitted to select 
the officers, I determined to comply with his Excellency's expect- 
ation. The Panther cruizer, being a smaller vessel than the Morn- 
ington, was considered as more suitable to the service of surveying, 
and was therefore ordered to be got ready. Lieutenant Charles 
Court was appointed to command her, in consequence of the very 
high character which he bore, as a seaman, and a man of science. 
Lieutenant Maxfield, who had been second Lieutenant of the 
Antelope, received the appointment to the Assaye, a small French 
schooner, which had been taken by a King's ship, and had been 
purchased by the Bombay Government, on the recommendation of 
the Marine board, as being a capital sailer. She was intended to 
accompany us as a tender in the more difficult navigation which 
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