XXVI 
OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS. 
ence in that neighbourhood, supposed to be so near the position of 
one of the great magnetic poles of the earth, as well as such other 
observations as you may have opportunities of making in Natural 
History, Geography, tyc., in parts of the globe, 6fc., little known, 
must prove most valuable and interesting to the science of our 
country ; and we, therefore, desire you to give your unremitting 
attention, and to call that of all the officers under your command, to 
these points; as being objects likely to prove of almost equal import- 
ance to the principal one before-mentioned, of ascertaining whether 
there exist any passage to the northward, from the one ocean to the 
other. 
For the purpose, not only of ascertaining the set of the currents in 
the Arctic Seas, but also of affording more frequent chances of hear- 
ing of your progress, we desire that you do, frequently after you have 
passed the latitude of 65° north, and once every day, when you shall 
be in an ascertained current, throw overboard a bottle, closely sealed, 
and containing a paper stating the date and position at which it is 
launched ; and you will give similar orders to the Commander of the 
Griper, to be executed in case of separation ; and, for this purpose, 
we have caused each ship to be supplied with papers, on which is 
printed, in several languages, a request, that whoever may find it 
should take measures for transmitting it to this office. 
And although you are not to be drawn aside from the main object of 
the service on which you are employed, as long as you may be 
enabled to make any progress ; yet, whenever you may be impeded 
by the ice, or find it necessary to approach the coasts of the continent 
or islands, you are to cause views of bays, harbours, headlands, tyc.-, 
to be carefully taken, to illustrate and explain the track of the vessels, 
