378 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 



course of his investigation of tlie winds and currents of tlie ocean." 

 And tliat 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 20° 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 officer 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 

 during these two cruises with Brooke's apparatus were first pub- 

 lished in the sixth edition of Sailing Directions, March, 1854. 

 The specimens from the bottom were forwarded to the Observa- 

 tory, and by me sent to that charming man of science, the late 

 Professor Bailey, of West Point, for examination under his micro- 

 scope. He examined them, and found those specimens from the 

 bottom of the great deep not to have ^^aimrtide of sand or gravel 

 mixed zvith them,'' 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 abrading 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 obstruction, without any thing to fret, chafe, 

 or wear, save alone the tooth of time. 



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

 Atlantic Telegraph inquired of me ''about the practicability of 

 submerging 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 



