50 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP, II. 
which I have already mentioned dredged by his son at 
a depth of 800 to 400 fathoms off the Loffoten Islands. 
I propounded my views to my fellow-labourer, and 
we discussed the subject many times over our micro- 
scopes. I strongly urged Dr. Carpenter to use his 
influence at head-quarters to induce the Admiralty, 
probably through the Council of the Royal Society, 
to_give us the use of a vessel properly fitted with 
dredging gear and all necessary scientific apparatus, 
that many heavy questions as to the state of things 
in the depths of the ocean which were still in a state 
of uncertainty, might be definitely settled. After full 
consideration, Dr. Carpenter promised his hearty co- 
operation, and we agreed that I should write to him 
on his return to London, indicating generally the 
results which I anticipated, and sketching out what 
I conceived to be a promising line of inquiry. The 
Council of the Royal Society warmly supported the 
proposal ; and I give here in chronological order the 
short and eminently satisfactory correspondence which 
led to the Admiralty placing at the disposal of Dr. 
Carpenter and myself the gunboat ‘ Lightning’ under 
the command of Staff'Commander May, R.N., in the 
summer of 1868, for a trial cruise to the north of 
Scotland, and afterwards to the much wider surveys in 
H.M.S. ‘ Porcupine,’ Capt. Calver, R.N., which were 
made with the additional association of Mr. Gwyn 
Jeffreys in the summers of the years 1869 and 1870. 
From Prof. Wyville Thomson, Belfast, to Dr. Carpenter, V.P.R.S. 
May 30, 1868. 
My DEAR CARPENTER,— When I last saw you, I suggested how 
very important it would be to the advancement of science to 
