366 APPENDIX. 



of his investigation of the winds and currents of the ocean." And 

 that I might procure specimens of the. bottom, this apparatus of 

 Brooke was put on board the Dolphin ; and this was the first time 

 that it was put on board any vessel. The first time it was used 

 was at 1 20 P.M., July 7, 1853, in latitude 54° 17' north, longitude 

 22° 33' west, by J." G. Mitchell, then a midshipman on board that 

 brig. This sounding, as were all since Lee's time, was made from 

 a boat; it occupied six hours. The depth was 2000 fathoms, 

 and the rod came up, its arming loaded with precious trophies. 

 This promising young ofiicer made every deep-sea sounding that 

 was made in the Dolphin during that cruise, save one only, and to 

 him belongs the honor of bringing up the first specimen that was 

 ever obtained from the bottom of the deep sea. Subsequently, 

 during this cruise, several other specimens were obtained ; but the 

 first was described by Mitchell as "a fine chalky clay." 



The Dolphin returned in November, 1853. Her soundings dur- 

 ing these two cruises with Brooke's apparatus were first published 

 in the sixth edition of Sailing Directions, March, 1854. The speci- 

 mens from the bottom were forwarded to the Observatory, and by 

 me sent to that charming man of science, the late Professor Bailey, 

 of West Point, for examination under his microscope. He exam- 

 ined them, and found those specimens from the bottom of the 

 great deep not to have "a particle of sand or gravel mixed ivith 

 tliemj^ but to be mites of sea-shells, perfect in form, and as unworn 

 and untriturated as they were when alive. 



This discovery of the microscope at once suggested the idea 

 that there is no running water, no al)rading forces at play upon 

 the bottom and bed of the deep sea ; and consequently that, if an 

 electric cord were ever lodged upon the telegraphic plateau, there 

 it would lie in cold obstru.ction, without any thing to fret, chafe, 

 or wear, save alone the tooth of time. 



Accordingly, when, in February, 1854, the projectors of the At- 

 lantic Telegraph inquired of me " about the practicability of sub- 

 merging the cable," I was enabled to reply as follows : 



"From Newfoundland to Ireland the distance between the 

 nearest points is about sixteen hundred miles, and the bottom of 

 the sea between the two places is a plateau, which seems to have 

 been placed there especially for the purpose of holding the wires 

 of a submarine telegraph and of keeping them out of harm's way. 



