by coming the north Pacific Ocean to north
America.
The other promoters with myself were reluctant to advance further in this enterprise without bringing the matter to the knowledge of H. M's Govt., because of its great international character, unwilling to proceed without asking the cooperation of this Fleet with those of other nations in aiding, assisting, protecting the enterprise by making known to the Chinese & other Authorities that H. M's Govt. felt interest in the undertaking & thereby secure it against the depredations of all who in seas so remote thro' ignorance of its objects at first might be disposed to molest or destroy its usefulness.
This I believe is strictly in accordance with your understanding of what I had made known to you, the instructions of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to H. M's feet are in accordance therewith.
248
For any despatch that you can give in furnishing me with official copies of the instructions issued to attain these ends, I shall stand under renewed personal obligations to you.
I have &c.,
(signed) James
Trulliken