178 A I T E N D I X .
ness, and the accompanying letter from the government of Chile, as
soon as possible.
H.M. sloop Beagle, in Port Herradura, Coquimbo,
6th day of June 1835.
T o Lieutenant B. J . SULIVAN, R. F.
H.M.S. Beagle.
No. 26.
By BOBEKT FITZROY, Captain of His Majesty's Surveying
Sloop Beagle.
YOU are hereby required and directed to take charge and command
of his Majesty's surveying sloop Beagle, until I rejoin you at Callao.
You %vill conform your conduct, in all respects, to the instructions
sent to me for my guidance by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
You tvill sail from Valparaiso on the 28th of tliis month, or as soon
after as possible, and proceed direct to Copiapo.
Thence you will proceed to Callao, calling at Iquique, if circumstances
are favourable ; and at Callao you \vill await my arrival.
H.M. sloop Beagle, in Valparaiso Bay,
ISthof June 1835. B- F .
To Lieut. J. C. WicKHAM,
H.M.S. Beagle.
N.B. Remember that Peru is in a state of anarchy.
No. 27.
JoUBNAL of the Proceedings on board the hired schooner. Carmen,
in search of the crew of his Majesty's late ship Challenger.
June 22d, 1835.—H.M.S. Blonde's boats getting the schooner
Carmen ready for sea; at thirty minutes past eight, P.M. went on
board the schooner with the Beagle's whale-boat and surveying instruments.
Tuesday, 23d. Blowing a strong gale from the northward all day,
with very heavy rain; a great deal of surf on the beach, made it
impossible to land; therefore nothing was done to forward the
schooner's sailing.
. Wednesday, 24th. More moderate, but very unsettled weather ;
Blonde's boats preparing schooner for sea; at four, weighed and ran
If
APPENDIX. 179
under the commodore's stern. Asked the commodore for some ballast,
a few muskets, and a little powder; was refused. Thirty minutes past
four, received final orders; made aU sail, with the wind fresh from
the southward, and ran through the small passage.
On board the Carmen were :
Mr. Wm. Thayer, master of the vessel.
George Biddleeombe, 2d master of H.M.S. Blonde.
Alex.B.Usbome, 2d assist, surveyor, „ Beagle.
James Bennett, gunner's mate, „ Beagle.
John Nutcher, boatswain's mate, „ Blonde.
John Macintosh, A.B. .. Blonde.
John MitcheU, A.B. .. Blonde,
and ten men hired at Talcahuano, who were of very little, indeed
almost no use as seamen.
At about ten, P.M. the wind died away to nearly a calm, which
continued throughout the night.
Thursday, 25th. Daylight. Saw the Paps of Bio Bio E.S.E. by
compass, nme miles distant; Ught, variable airs from the northward
throughout the day. Sun-set: north end of St. Mary S.b.W. six
miles, calm all night.
Friday, 26th. Daylight. North end of St. Mary S.E. five miles; light
winds from the northward, until four, P.M., when the wind freshened
from north-north-west, with heavy squaUs of wind and rain; sun-set.
Carnero Head, E. distant five mües. At thirty minutes past six,
observed a fire on Tucapel Head, bearing south-east; burnt a blue
light, supposing it might be part of the Challenger's crew on their
road to Concepcion; hut finding no alteration in the size of the fire,
and it not corresponding with the signal agreed on, continued our
course towards the supposed place of the Lebu, or Leiibu.
Saturday, 27th. Strong winds from the northward, and squally
weather, with heavy rain ; stood oif and under foresail until two, P.M.,
when the weather cleared a little; made aU possible saü, and stood
in for the point on which the Challenger was lost. At three, Mol-'
guilla Point E. two miles and a half distant, saw nothing of the
wreck; bore up, and stood along the land toward the southward,
from one to two miles off shore, in search of the river Lebu. At five,
P.M., having run ten miles south of Point Molguilla, and five miles
south of the supposed place of the Lebu, and not seeing any thing of
the wreck or crew of the Challenger, hauled off, and hove-to; at
jlM •é.
iJn i
B E ^ C