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

362 ADVEKTURE SOLD— CHANGES. NoV. allowed to bear twenty additional seamen on the Beagle's books, whose pay and provisions would then be provided by Government, being willing to defray every other expense myself; but even this was refused. As soon as my mind was made up, after a most painful struggle, I discharged the Adventure's crew, took the officers back to the Beagle, and sold the vessel.* Early in November our charts of the eastern coasts of Pata- gonia and Tierra del Fuego, as well as those of the Falkland Islands (the work of the Adventure) were finished, and shipped off for England ; and on the 10th we sailed, alone, to resume our more active occupations on the southern coasts. My former intention was to have filled up all blanks in the charts of the outer west coast of Patagonia, between the parallels of fifty- three and forty-eight, and then carried a connected survey along the coast to the equator ; after which the Galapagos Islands ; Dangerous Archipelago; Marquesas, Society, Friendly, and Feejee Islands ; besides New Zealand ; were to have had as earnest an examination as could be effected by both vessels during 1836 and part of 1837. That this plan might have been carried out by the divisions of labour and exertions of the Beagle and her tender may, I think, be inferred from what has actually been executed with inferior means and in much less time. But my reduced arrangements were on a much smaller scale : I could only look to the most useful objects that might be effected within the limited time to which I dared to look forward. All on board partook, more or less, of the mortification caused by parting with our consort, just as she was most wanted, and most able to take an effective part ; and I confess that my own feelings and health were so much altered in consequence — so deprived of their former elasticity and soundness — that I could myself no longer bear the thoughts of such a prolonged sepa- ration from my country, as I had encouraged others to think • Though her sale was very ill-managed, parth' owing to my being dispirited and careless, she brought 7j5U0 dollars, nearly i 1,-100, and is now (1838) trading on that coast, in sound condition.