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

162 APPENDIX. undersigned cannot entertain a doubt but that, when the true cir- cumstances of the case shall have been communicated to the know- ledge of the government of the united provinces of the Rio de la Plata, that government will no longer call in question the right of sovereignty which has been exercised by his Majesty, as undoubtedly belonging to the CrovvTi of Great Britain. The undersigned requests, &c. (Signed) Palmerston. Foreign Office, January 8th, 1834. No. 18. By Robert Fitz-Roy, Commander of H. M. slooji " Beagle," off Watchman Cape, on the coast of Patagonia, 22d January 1 834. You are hereby required and directed to proceed in his Majesty's schooner. Adventure, under your command, to survey the Falldand Islands. New Island appears to me an eligible place for beginning your operations. Proceeding round the southern coasts, you will endeavour to meet me, in Berkeley Sound, early in March. After meeting me, or after the twenty-fifth of March, you wUl proceed to the northern shores of the Falkland Islands, and into Falk- land Sound. If, after going round the islands, you have time enough to make particular plans of any of the best harbours, you will do better than I now anticipate. All that I think time and weather will allow you to accomplish is a coast survey on a scale of one quarter of an inch to a mile of latitude. You wiU time your departure from the Falklands, so as to meet me at the west end of EUzabeth Island, in the Strait of Magalhaens, on or before the first day of next June. R. F. To Lieut. J. C. Wickham, commanding H. B. M. schooner " Adventure."