CHAP, II. ] THE CRUISE OF THE ‘ LIGHTNING, D3 
still have 4,000 feet of water whose conditions have probably not 
varied greatly since the commencement of the Eocene epoch. 
Yours most truly, 
WYVILLE THOMSON. 
From Dr. Carpenter, V.P.R.S., to the President of the Royal Society. 
University oF Lonpon, BurtincTton Housr, W. 
June 18th, 1868. 
DEAR GENERAL SABINE,—During a recent visit to Belfast, 
I had the opportunity of examining some of the specimens 
(transmitted by Prof. Sars of Christiania to Prof. Wyville 
Thomson) which have been obtained by M. Sars, jun., Inspector 
of Fisheries to the Swedish Government, by deep-sea dredgings 
off the coast of Norway. These specimens, for reasons stated in 
the enclosed letter from Prof. Wyville Thomson, are of singular 
interest alike to the zoologist and to the paleontologist ; and the 
discovery of them can scarcely fail to excite, both among natu- 
ralists and among geologists, a very strong desire that the zoology 
of the deep sea, especially in the Northern Atlantic region, should 
be more thoroughly and systematically explored than it has 
ever yet been. From what I know of your own early labours in 
this field, I cannot entertain a doubt of your full concurrence in 
this desire. 
Such an exploration cannot be undertaken by private indi- 
viduals, even when aided by grants from Scientific Societies. 
For dredging at great depths, a vessel of considerable size is 
requisite, with a trained crew, such as is only to be found in the 
Government service. It was by the aid of such an equipment, 
furnished by the Swedish Government, that the researches of 
M. Sars were carried on. 
Now, as there are understood to be at the present time an 
unusual number of gunboats and other cruisers on our northern 
and western coasts, which will probably remain on their stations 
until the end of the season, it has occurred to Prof. Wyville 
Thomson and myself, that the Admiralty, if moved thereto by 
the Council of the Royal Society, might be induced to place one 
of these vessels at the disposal of ourselves and of any other 
