t 
Cn 
CHAP. 11. | THE CRUISE OF THE ‘ LIGHTNING,’ 
From the Minutes of the Council of the Royal Society, 
June 18, 1868. 
These letters having been considered, it was resolved,—* That 
the proposal of Drs. Carpenter and Wyville Thomson be ap- 
proved, and recommended to the favourable consideration of the 
authorities of the Admiralty ; and that a sum, of not exceeding 
£100, be advanced from the Donation Fund to meet the expenses 
referred to in Dr, Carpenter’s letter.” 
The following draft of a letter to be written by the Secretary, 
to the Secretary of the Admiralty, was approved :— 
My Lorp,—I am directed to acquaint you, for the information 
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the President 
and Council of the Royal Society have had under their con- 
sideration a proposal by Dr. Carpenter, Vice-President of the 
Royal Society, and Dr. Wyville Thomson, Professor of Natural 
History in Queen’s College, Belfast, for conducting dredging 
operations at greater depths than have heretofore been attempted 
in the localities which they desire to explore—the main purpose 
of such researches being to obtain information as to the ex- 
istence, mode of hfe, and zoological relations of marine animals 
living at great depths, with a view to the solution of various 
questions relating to Animal Life, and having an important bear- 
ing on Geology and Paleontology. The objects of the opera- 
tions which they wish to undertake, and the course which they 
would propose to follow, as well as the aid they desire to obtain 
from the Admiralty, are more fully set forth in the letter of 
Dr. Carpenter to the President, and that of Professor Thomson, 
copies of which I herewith enclose, 
The President and Council are of opinion that important 
advantages may be expected to accrue to science from the 
proposed undertaking; accordingly they strongly recommend it 
to the favourable consideration of her Majesty’s Government, 
and earnestly hope that the Lords Commissioners of the 
Admiralty may be disposed to grant the aid requested. In such 
