X INTRODUCTION. 



stride in the advancement of knowledge, and a great step toward 

 its spread upon the waters. 



Important results soon followed, and great discoveries were 

 made. These attracted the attention of the commercial world, 

 and did not escape the notice of philosophers every where. 



The field was immense, the harvest was- plenteous, and there 

 was both need and room for more laborers. Whatever the reap- 

 ers should gather, or the merest gleaner collect, was to inure to 

 the benefit of commerce and navigation — the increase of knowl- 

 edge — the good of all. 



Therefore, all who use the sea were equally interested in the 

 undertaking. The government of the United States, so consider- 

 ing the matter, j^roposed a uniform system of observations at sea, 

 and invited all the maritime states of Christendom to a conference 

 upon the subject. 



This conference, consisting of representatives from France, En- 

 gland, and Kussia, from Sweden and Norway, Holland, Denmark, 

 Belgium, Portugal, and the United States, met in Brussels, August 

 23, 1853, and recommended a plan of observations which should 

 be followed on board the vessels of all friendly nations, and espe- 

 cially of those there present in the persons of their representatives. 



Prussia, Spain, Sardinia, the Holy See, the free city of Ham- 

 burg, the republics of Bremen and Chili, and the empires of Aus- 

 tria and Brazil, have since offered their co-operation also in the 

 same plan. 



Thus the sea has been brought regularly within the domains 

 of philosophical research, and crowded with observers. 



In peace and in war these observations are to be carried on, 

 and, in case any of the vessels on board of which they are con- 

 ducted may be captured, the abstract log — as the journal which 

 contains these observations is called — is to be held sacred. 



Baron Humboldt is of opinion that the results already obtained 

 from this system of research are sufiicient to give rise to a new 

 department of science, which he has called the Physical Geog- 

 raphy OF THE Sea. If so much have already been accomplish- 

 ed by one nation, what may we not expect in the course of a few 

 years from the joint co-operation of so many? 



Rarely before has there been such a sublime spectacle present- 

 ed to the scientific world : all nations a2:reein": to unite and co- 



