CHAP. II. ] THE CRUISE OF THE ‘ LIGHTNING!’ 57 
had adopted the current strange misconception with 
regard to the distribution of ocean temperature; and 
it is perhaps scarcely a valid excuse that the fallacy 
of a universal and constant temperature of 4° C. 
below a certain depth varying according to latitude, 
was at the time accepted and taught by nearly all 
the leading authorities in Physical Geography. — 
From the time that the Admiralty gave their 
sanction to the use of a Government vessel for the 
investigation, Dr. Carpenter’s labours in working out 
all the necessary arrangements and preparations were 
unceasing, and to his influence in the Council of the 
Royal Society, and to the confidence placed in his 
judgment by members of the Government and men 
in official positions, the success of the undertaking is 
unquestionably due. 
The surveying ship ‘ Lightning’ was assigned for 
the service—a cranky little vessel enough, one which 
had the somewhat doubtful title to respect of being 
perhaps the very oldest paddle-steamer in her 
Majesty’s navy. We had not good times in the 
‘Lightning. She kept out the water imperfectly, 
and as we had deplorable weather during nearly the 
whole of the six weeks we were afloat, we were in con- 
siderable discomfort. The vessel, in fact, was scarcely 
seaworthy, the iron hook and screw-jack fastenings of 
the rigging were worn with age, and many of them 
were carried away, and on two occasions the ship ran 
some risk. Still the voyage was on the whole almost 
pleasant. Staff-Commander May had lately returned 
from Annesley Bay, where he had been harbour-master 
during the Abyssinian war; and his intelligence and 
vivacity, and the cordial good-fellowship of his officers, 
3 
