CHAP. I. ] THE EQUIPMENT OF THE SHIP. 73 
APPENDIX A. 
Official Correspondence with Reference to the ‘‘ Challenger” Expedition. 
Extracted from the Minutes of Council of the Royal Society. 
June 29th, 1871. 
Read the following letter from Dr. Carpenter : 
“University oF Lonpon, Burtincton Garpens, W., June 15th, 1871. 
“Dear Proressor Stoxes,—The information we have lately received 
as to the activity with which other nations are now entering upon the 
Physical and Biological Exploration of the Deep Sea, makes it appear 
to my colleagues and myself that the time is now come for bringing 
before our own Government the importance of initiating a more com- 
plete and systematic course of research than we have yet had the means 
of prosecuting. 
“The accompanying slip from last week’s Mature 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. 
“ For 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 be 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 be on the broadest basis pos- 
sible—I should suggest that the Council of the Royal 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 with the President of the British Association, and the 
Presidents of the Chemical, Geographical, Geological, Linnzean, and 
Zoological Societies. Such a committee might meet before the recess, 
and decide upon some general plan; and this would be then considered 
as to its details by the members representing different departments of 
