the noA’elty and peculiarity of many of the ohseium-
tions aAV’akened a AA’ide-spread curiosity and interest
in even the purely scientific bearings of the inquiry.
Our cousins across the Atlantic had been working
along with us pari passu, and ere long several of the
European States sent out deep-sea expeditions more
or less eifective. None of these Avere attended with
any great amount of success, and it seemed evident
that England must give, at all events the first broad
outline of the physical conditions of the bed of the
ocean. How this Avas best to be done was a matter
of the most serious consideration and frequent consultation
among those to wdiom the earlier stages
of the inquiry had been intrusted; and finally Dr.
Carpenter addressed a letter to the Eirst Lord of
the Admiralty, urging the despatch of a circumnavigating
Expedition, thoroughly equipped and with a
competent scientific staff, to traverse the great ocean
basins and prepare sections showing their physical
and biological conditions, along certain lines. Dr.
Carpenter’s letter Avas referred in due course to the
Hydrographer to the Navy, who at once threw himself
cordially into the project and prepared a report, which
resulted in the Lords of the Admiralty agreeing to
the despatch of such an Expedition if the Royal
Society recommended it, and provided them with a
feasible scheme. A committee Avas appointed hy the
Royal Society, and a comprehensive scheme was
draAvn up.
The sagacious minister who at that time held the
purse-strings regarded this as an important matter
beyond the reach of private enterprise, and it was with
the cordial assent of the House of Commons that Mr.
Lowe agreed to defray from the public purse what
additional funds might he required to equip a Surveying
ship in commission Avith all the necessary
appliances for scientific research, and to associate
wuth her complement of scientific ofiicers a civilian
staff of specialists in departments Avhich do not come
Avithin the scope of the ordinary Avork of naval
surveyors.
The Committee of the Royal Society, Avith Admiral
Richards as one of its most influential members, met
from time to time and offered practical suggestions.
The ‘ Challenger,’ a spar-decked corvette of 2,306
tons with auxiliary steam to 1,234 horse-power, and
usually mounting eighteen 68-ponnders, Avas chosen
for the service; and Captain Nares, a surveying
officer of great experience and singularly Avell suited
in every way for such a post, was selected to take
command. When it Avas suggested to me at the commencement
of the negotiations to join the Expedition
as Director of the civilian scientific staff the sacrifice
appeared in every w’ay too great; hut as the various
arrangements progressed, so many friendly plans Avere
proposed on all hands to smooth away every difficulty,
that I finally accepted a post which to a
younger naturalist without the ties of a family and
a responsible home appointment Avould he perhaps
among the most delightful the Avorld could offer.
A staff of officers, many of them surveyors and
already distinguished by their knowledge of various
branches of practical science, were carefully selected
from a large number of volunteers, and a civilian
scientific staff, consisting of a director, his secretary,
three naturalists, and a chemist, Avere appointed on