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APPENDIX NO. IV. 
We have computed the present amount of firewood on board, includ¬ 
ing the trebling, to be equal to fourteen days’ consumption. 
We are, respectfully, your obedient servants, 
Christian OnLSEN, Carpenter 
J. McGary, Second Officer. 
Amos Bonsall. 
To E K. Kane, Esq., Commanding Expedition . 
No. IV. 
Letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Navy to Lieut. Hartstenc. 
Navy Department, May 25, 1855. 
Sir:—A resolution of Congress, approved February 3, 1855, au¬ 
thorizes the Secretary of the Navy “to provide and despatch a suitable 
naval or other steamer, and, if necessary, a tender, to the Arctic spas, 
for the purpose of rescuing or affording relief to Passed Assistant 
Surgeon E. K. Kane, of the United States Navy, and the officers and 
men under his command.” 
The barque Release and steamer Arctic having been procured and 
especially fitted and equipped for this service under your supervision 
and inspection, with full ratious aud extra provisions for two years, and 
clothing peculiarly adapted for the climate of the Arctic regions, and 
such officers and men detailed as the Department, as well as yourself, 
considered necessary and sufficient, and the command of the expedition 
having been already assigned to you, you will, so soon as the above- 
named vessels are in all respects ready for sea, proceed with them, by 
all means as early as the first of June, in the prosecution of the object 
of the resolution of Congress, economizing as much as possible in the 
use of coal. 
It is understood from reliable sources that you can renew your supply 
of coal at Waigat Island, at which point it would seem to be advisable 
that you should touch, unless unforeseen circumstances admonish you to 
do otherwise, or some more practicable point should be ascertained by 
you. I will endeavor to procure and forward to you letters of intro¬ 
duction from the representative of Denmark to the governor of the 
Danish settlements, at which it may be useful and prudent that you 
should touch, for the purpose of making inquiry aud procuring infor¬ 
mation. 
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