Miscellaneous. 79 



" North-Atlantic 8ea-Bed. — In contributing to our better acquaint- 

 ance with the natural history of the sea, as ascertained during the 

 voyage of H.M.S. ' Bulldog,' under the command of Sir Leopold 

 McClintock, Dr. Wallich* produced, by soundings at great depths, 

 excellent materials to enable men of science to appreciate more 

 correctly than before the feasibility of laying down a submarine 

 telegraph between Ireland and North America. Extending the 

 bathymetrical limits of animal life in the ocean to the great depth 

 of 7500 feet, or 1| mile, beneath its surface, and working out 

 accurate data as to the varied condition of the sea-bottom at dif- 

 ferent depths, he was well qualified to propose to our Council a 

 scheme for such a systematic survey of the sea and sea-bed between 

 Ireland and Newfoundland as might lead to the laying on a sound 

 basis a submarine telegraphic cable between the two countries. 



" Attributing the fears and doubts as to a successful issue of the 

 schemes put forth chiefly to the inadequate methods hitherto 

 employed in examining the sea-bed by the rapid transit of our sur- 

 veying-ships, and by soundings taken on one line only at great 

 distances apart, Dr. Wallich proposed that a much closer search 

 shoidd be made before telegraphic cables were lowered into un- 

 known depths, and laid across submarine hills, gorges, and valleys, 

 the irregularity of whose forms, as existing between the points 

 hitherto sounded, might prove to be enormous. He argued that a 

 full and proper submarine search was as essential a preliminary to 

 a rational scheme of laying down a telegi'aphic cable, as a survey of 

 the outlines of land was requisite for the engineer before he could 

 accurately define the best and safest line to be followed by a rail- 

 road. 



" Being of opinion that such an effort was well worthy of their 

 encouragement, the Council of our Society supported the project of 

 Dr. Wallich, not only in the belief that its execution must throw 

 much light on this interesting branch of physical geography, but 

 would also develop various phenomena of great interest in natural 

 history, geology, meteorology, and physics. On my own part, 

 being very desirous of seeing so noble an exercise of the searching 

 powers of this great maritime nation set on foot under the manage- 

 ment of so energetic a naturalist as Dr. Wallich, I earnestly 

 recommended its adoption to the First Lord of the Admiralty. 

 But, as the project matured, it speedily appeared that Dr. Wallich 

 required two steamers for the effectual survey in question, which 

 demand was considered to be too heavy at a moment when few 

 vessels could be spared from our naval reserves ; and hence the 

 consideration of the subject has, for the present, been dropped. 

 I hope, however, that in more quiet times a complete submarine 

 survey of the Atlantic wiU be carried out, by the joint operations 

 of nations on both sides of that ocean ; and when that day arrives, I 

 trust that the project of Dr. Wallich, with all his ingenious appli- 



* " See Dr. WaUich's work, published with the sanction of the Lords of 

 the Admiralty, entitled 'The North- Atlantic Sea-bed.' London, 1862. 

 Van Voorst." 



