CHARLES WILKES 
225 
formed, I resolved to take advantage of this, and if possi- 
ble force a passage, feeling it necessary at all hazards to 
extricate ourselves as soon as possible. Having the wind 
free, I gave her the main-sheet, and manned it well, and 
having got about six knots way on her, kept close to the 
ice, and when at the proper distance, put the helm down, 
hauled the main-sheet forcibly to windward and let fly 
the head-sheets; this brought her round suddenly before 
she had passed through sufficient water to deaden her 
way ; the ice cracked, we slipped over, or brushed 
through, and before eight o'clock we had got into a toler- 
ably clear sea.” 
When the two vessels met it was evident to both the 
commanders that it was time to turn northward and Cap- 
tain Hudson ordered this to be done, magniloquently 
stating that it required more moral courage to bring his 
mind to the decision than he could well describe as there 
was less ice at the moment about them than usual and 
personal ambition prompted another attempt to get a 
high latitude. 
The whole squadron made for Valparaiso Harbour, 
where all except the unfortunate Sea Gull safely arrived 
and proceeded on their cruise in the tropical Pacific in 
the month of May. 
At the end of November 1839 the Vincennes, Peacock, 
Porpoise and Flying Fish reached Sydney Harbour, the 
Relief having been sent back to the United States as use- 
less for the purposes of the expedition. Here the natur- 
alists were informed that they would not be required on 
the second cruise to the Antarctic and advised to devote 
themselves to the more profitable study of the natural 
history of Australia and New Zealand. 
Vessels worse adapted for the cruise now undertaken 
15 
