60 THE ATLANTTC. [ c h a p . I.
as Ave are likely to meet Avitli during tlie voyage.
This at once brought all our Aveak points to light,
and it is Avell that Ave got into quiet water again
AA’i t b increased confidence in tbe stability of our
arranOgements.
H.M S. ‘ CHALLKNGF.R.
APPENDIX A.
Official Correspondence vjith reference to the ‘ Cliallenger ’ Expedition.
Extracted from the Minutes of Council of the Royal
Society.
June 2,9th, 1871.
Eead the following Letter from Dr. Carpenter:—
“ U n i v e r s i t y o f L o n d o n , B u r l i n g t o n G a r d e n s , AV.
“ June 15, 1871.
“ Dear Prof. Stokes,'—The information we have lately received
as to the activity with which otlier nations are now
entering upon the Physical and Biological Exploration of the Deeji
Sea, makes it appear to my colleagues and myself that the
time is now come for bringing before onr own Government the
importance of initiating a more comjilete and systematic
course of research than we have yet had the means of prosecuting.
“ The accompanying slip) from last week’s ‘Nature’ will
make known to the Council what is going on elsewhere, and the
feeling entertained on the subjects alike in the scientific world
and (as I have good reason to believe) by the public generally.
“ Por adequately carrying out any extensive plan of research,
it would be requisite that special provision should be made ; and
as the Estimates for next year will have to be framed before
the end of the present year, no time ought now to lost, if the
matter is to be taken up at all.
“ In order that the various departments of Science to which
these researches are related should be adequately represented,—
so that any Application made to Government should he on the
broadest basis possible,—I should suggest that the Council of
the Poyal Society, as the promoters of all that has been already
done in the matter, should take the initiative; and should appoint
a Committee to consider a Scheme, in conjunction Avith the