means which are necessary for the complete execution
of the object above-mentioned, and for the
health and comfort of their Ships’ Companies. You
are also furnished with all the information, we at
present possess, of the ports which you are to survey ;
and nine Covernment Chronometers have been embarked
in the Adventure, and three in the Beagle,
for the better determination of the Longitudes.
“ You are therefore hereby required and directed,
as soon as both vessels shall be in all respects ready,
to put to sea with them ; and on your way to your
ulterior destination, you are to make, or call at, the
following places, successively ; namely ; Madeira :
Teneriffe : the northern point of St. Antonio, and
the anchorage at St. Jago ; both in the Cape Verd
Islands : the Island of Trinidad, in the Southern
Atlantic ; and Rio de Janeiro : for the purpose of
ascertaining the differences of the longitudes of
those several places.
“ At Rio de Janeiro, you will receive any supplies
you may require ; and make with the Commander-
in-chief, on that Station, such arrangements as may
tend to facilitate your receiving further supplies, in
the course of your Expedition.
“ After which, you are to proceed to the entrance
of the River Plata, to ascertain the longitudes of
the Cape Santa Maria, and Monte Video : you are
then to proceed to survey the Coasts, Islands, and
Straits ; from Cape St. Antonio, at the south side
of the River Plata, to Chiloe; on the west coast of
America ; in such manner and order, as the state
of the season, the information you may have received,
or other circumstances, may induce you to
adopt.
“ You are to continue on this service until it shall
be completed ; taking every opportunity to communicate
to our Secretary, and the Commander-in-
Chief, your proceedings : and also, whenever you
may be able to form any judgment of it, where the
Commander-in-Chief, or our Secretary, may be able
to communicate with you.
“ In addition to any arrangements made with the
Admiral, for recruiting your stores, and provisions ;
you are, of course, at liberty to take all other means,
which may be within your reach, for that essential
purpose.
“ You are to avail yourself of every opportunity
of collecting and preserving Specimens of such
objects of Natural History as may be new, rare, or
interesting ; and you are to instruct Captain Stokes,
and all the other Officers, to use their best diligence
in increasing the Collections in each ship : the
whole of which must be understood to belong to
the Public.
“ In the event of any irreparable accident happening
to either of the two vessels, you are to cause
the officers and crew of the disabled vessel to be
b