Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1830. FUEGIANS. 7 This letter was forwarded to the Adniirahy by Captain King, as soon as he arrived in England ; and a few days after- wards the following answer was received. « Sir, Admiralty Office, 19th Oct. 1830. " Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admi- ralty your letter and its enclosure from Conunander Fitz-Roy, of the Beagle, relative to the four Indians whom he has brought from Tierra del Fuego under the circumstances therein stated ; I am commanded to acquaint you that their Lordships will not interfere with Commander Fitz-Roy "'s per- sonal superintendence of, or benevolent intentions towards these four people, but they will afford him any facilities towards maintaining and educating them in England, and will give them a passage home again. " I am, &c. " To Commander King, (Signed) John Barrow."" H.M.S.V. Adventure." I was, of course, anxious to protect the Fuegians, as far as possible, from the contagion of any of those disorders, some- times prevalent, and which unhappily have so often proved fatal to the aboriginal natives of distant countries when brought to Europe ; and, immediately after our arrival in England, they landed with me, after dark, and were taken to comfort- able, airy lodgings, where, next day, they were vaccinated, for the second time. Two days afterwards they were carried a few miles into the country, to a quiet farm-house, where I hoped they would enjoy more freedom and fresh air, and, at the same time, incur less risk of contagion than in a populous sea-port town, where curiosity would be excited. Meanwhile, the Beagle was stripped and cleared out ; and the Adventure went to Woolwich for a similar purpose, prepa- ratory to being paid off. On the 27th of October, the Beagle's pendant was hauled down ; and on the 15th of November, the Adventure was put out of commission.