sition carefully ascertained.

At Swan River you will have previously learnt from Lieutenant Roe, the
Surveyor-General, whether the above-mentioned rocks off Kangaroo Island,
have been again seen, or their position altered, since Captain Brockman's
first description, so as to save your time in the search.

You will no doubt obtain from that intelligent officer, Lieutenant Roe,
much important information respecting the north-west coast, as well as
all the detached intelligence, which during his long residence there he
must have collected, relating to every part of the shores of New Holland.
From him, also, you will acquire many useful hints about the places in
the Indian Sea where refreshments may be obtained, as well as some
insight into the disposition of the authorities and the inhabitants whom
you will meet there, and he will probably be able to give you a clear
account of the duration of the monsoons and their accompanying weather.

If at Port Dalrymple it should so happen that you can wait on Sir John
Franklin, it is probable that he will detach Lieutenant Burnett to
cooperate with you in the survey of Bass Strait, and it is certain that
the Governor will do everything in his power to assist your labours. At
Sydney you will have the advantage of seeing Captain P.P. King, whose
long experience of all those coasts, as well as of the seasons, and of
the manner of dealing with the inhabitants, will be of the utmost use to
you; and whose zeal for the King's service, and whose love of science,
will lead him to do everything possible to promote your views. If Mr.
Cunningham, the Government Botanist, be there, he also will, I am
convinced, eagerly communicate to you and your officers everything which
may be serviceable in the pursuits connected with Natural History.

At Swan River, at Port Dalrymple, and at Sydney, it may, perhaps, be
possible for you to hire, at a low rate, some person acquainted with the
dialects of the natives, which you are subsequently to visit, and with
whom it will be so essential to be on friendly terms. Such a person will
greatly assist in that object; but you will keep him on board no longer
than absolutely necessary, and you will take care to provide for his
return if the Beagle should not be able to carry him back.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

In such an extensive and distant survey, numerous subjects of inquiry,
though not strictly nautical, will suggest themselves to your active
mind; and thou