50 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [chap. ii. 



which I have already mentioned dredged by his son at 

 a depth of 300 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, It N., in the 

 summer of 18G8, for a trial cruise to the north of 

 Scotland, and afterwards to the much wider surveys 

 in H.M.S. ' Porcupine,' Captain Calver, H.N., which 

 were made with the additional association of Mr. Gwyn 

 Jeffreys in the summers of the years 1869 and 1870. 



From Prof. WyvUh 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 



