Gizo, Solomon Islands, October 31st, 1927. Dear Doctor Murphy: Hamlin and I joined the France on Tuesday, October 11th. She was laying in Ariel Cove on the Island of Kulambangra. Thus we have been on board her approximate- ly three weeks. From the experience we have had on board and from the impressions we received from people as we followed in her wake to catch up to her along the coast I take the material spirit of this letter. As far as I can fathom everything is all right. Mr. Beck has been very kind to us. Rumors of his extreme eccentricity which we picked up beforehand were dissipated after some experience with him. He is highly energetic and curt, and whereas for this reason the crew dislike him the number of specimens collected day in and day out remains constantly great. You know even better than I the thousand little grievances and crosscurrents which can arise when a number of human beings are thrown together in small quarters for a considerable length of time. The France is not immune from them naturally, but I have yet to feel that one of them is serious or impor- tant. The work of the expedition, which is the norm of the matter, goes on and seems to my yet unprofessional judgment to be accomplished in a highly creditable manner. There is a certain thing about Mr. Beck, however, which may be of interest to you as having some bearing on the future of the Expedition. It is, to wit, the question of his health. Watching him closely has given me the impression that I am watching a sick man.