the vessels chosen for this voyage were the "butterworth", a former french frigate of 392 tons, a large sloop named the "jackal" (sometimes written as "jackall" or "jack hall"), and a smaller sloop named "prince lee boo", all under the command of captain william brown. they sailed from england in late 1791. by march 1792 they were encamped on staten island near cape horn, slaughtering seals and boiling their oil.