1852.] SOCIETY OF LOYAL ARCTIC ENGINEERS. 171 



only ; third, those who knew nothing ; and very satis- 

 factory progress was made, thanks to the supervision of 

 Commander Richards, Mr. Loney, and Mr. Lewis, who 

 handsomely offered their services. 



As there seemed yet to be a vacuum, I proposed the 

 incorporation of the Loyal Circle of Arctic Engineers, to 

 meet on Monday evenings, read some interesting matter 

 from standard works, or produce a paper upon particular 

 matters immediately connected with our operations, pre- 

 sent or intended. My object was to enable the diffident 

 seamen to stir themselves by a course of study which 

 would enable them to enter the ' Excellent' with certain 

 acquirements. It is not the province of the Captain to 

 take the lead in such matters beyond the suggestion, and 

 I expected, if the direction could once be brought to 

 move in the right road, it might induce those to think 

 who never thought before, and perhaps seek to solve the 

 meaning of expressions to which they were not accus- 

 tomed. It was a rational exercise of the mind, and 

 unless some one set the machine in action, the wheels 

 might become so much clogged (by sleep) as to be inert 

 when required. 



There was another great object which I confess I had 

 in view, and that was the discussion, at the moment and 

 on the spot, of many particular subjects of great interest, 

 and to stamp them by some mark of authority now, so 

 as to prevent, at any later date, any theoretical fireside 

 discussions in England, where they might not be properly 

 refuted. Opposition and discussion here would secure 

 proper tests, would induce each party interested to col- 

 lect facts ; and thus our records would become valuable, 



