226 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



to the East and West Indies, Coasts of Africa and Australia, as 

 well as to some of the Pacific and Sperm whalers and traders ; 

 a few of which may in time be returned with interesting material. 

 It is encouraging to know that other societies are following this 

 example, so that our knowledge of the sea-bottom will soon be 

 vastly increased. 



Results of unexpected magnitude are likely to follow these 

 humble efforts to obtain specimens from the deep sea. Amongst 

 those captains who were solicited to preserve their soundings 

 was Captain James Anderson, then of the Cunard steamer 

 ^' Canada." In the course of correspondence with your Secre- 

 tary, this enlightened sailor developed a long thought-of plan 

 for the social advancement of his fellow-mariners, to induce 

 them to study natural science in its various branches, and to 

 render their assistance available to scientific institutions through- 

 out the country. Captain Anderson asked for your assistance to 

 carry ovit his views. All who heard his letter read were so 

 convinced of the importance of the project that it was unani- 

 mously determined, as a first step, the letter should be printed 

 and circulated at the expense of the Section. This has been done 

 to a limited extent, and in consequence a meeting of a few friends 

 was held in the Liverpool Town Hall on the 30th ultimo. The 

 Mayor, R. S. Gri\aves, Esq., presided. There were present 

 Colonel Wm. Brown, Dr. Collingwood, Captain Anderson, Mr. 

 Hathboue, Mr. Mackay, and other eminent shipovrners and 

 gentlemen favorable to the scheme. After Captain Anderson 

 had explained his views, your Secretary endeavoured to point 

 out how societies in interior towns could contribute to its success, 

 and participitate in its advantages ; how shipmasters would 

 improve themselves by the collection of specimens, and the 

 study of the natural sciences in general, but more particularly 

 that of meteorology, to enable them to shorten voyages, and to 

 reduce the losses shipowners and underwriters now constantly 

 sufier. All were deeply impressed with the advantages to be 

 derived if a good working plan could be organised. None could 

 at once be formed without some objections ; but a committee 

 was appointed to take the subject into consideration, and report 

 thereon. 



It will be a source of gratification to this Section if, through 

 its instrumentality, the first steps were taken to commence a 

 work the importance of which, if thoroughly carried out, will be 

 considerable. To promote scientific research amongst a numerous 

 class of men and youths whose opportunities of collecting speci- 

 mens, and making scientific observations in all parts of the 

 world are vmequalled, is an object worthy of our attention ; 

 and although another generation may be required fully to develop 

 its usefulness, some good may be done even in our day. 



With such purposes in view, the future prospects of our 

 Section are encouraging; and although in the highly scientific 

 branches of microscopical research we have done but little, it is 



