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

1835. MISCONDUCT OF MASTER. 537 to enforce the law, he said, ' It is agreed ; I will give you the money, three hundred and ninety dollars.' " On the 24th of December the governor sent a person for the money. The captain of the ship said, ' He had no money.' We then held a meeting : the governor's speaker said to the captain, ' Pay the money according to the agreement of the 22d day of this month.' The captain said, ' I have no money.' The governor told him, ' If you will not pay the money we will put your men on board the ship.' " One Lawler said, ' Friends, is it agreeable to you that I should assist him ? I will pay the money to you, three hun- dred and ninety dollars ! I will give property into your hands this is the kind of property ; such as may remain a long time by the sea-side and not be perishable. In five months, should not the money be paid, this property shall become your own.' " Mr. Pritchard said that this was the custom among foreign- ers. We agreed to the proposal. " On the 26th of December we went to Lawler's house to look at the property, and see if it was suitable for the sum of money; and also to make some writings about this property. While there, Lawler made known to us something new, which was, that we should sign our names to a paper, written by the cap- tain, for him to show his owners. We did not agree to this proposal, because we did not know the crime for which these men were turned on shore. We saw clearly that these two persons were deceiving us, and that they would not pay the money ; also that the captain would not again take his men ; but we did not attempt to put his men on board the ship, be- cause another English whaler had come to anchor. We told the captain that we should write a letter to the British govern- ment, that they might order this business to be investigated, and might afford us their assistance. " This is the substance of what wejiave to say : — We entreat you, the British Government, to help us in our troubles. Punish this Captain Miner, and command the owners of the Venilia to pay us three hundred and ninety dollars for thirteen of their men having been left on our land ; and also to send the wages