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the ensuing session, and this request has also been willingly com- 

 plied with. That Society meets but once a fortnight, and on a 

 day which does not interfere with our own meetings. Nor can there 

 be any difference of opinion as to the value of their labours in the 

 promotion of science, if prosecuted, as there is every reason to hope 

 they will be, with a special view to that object. Indeed there are 

 few associations that might render more important aid in this behalf, 

 than a Society instituted for the purpose of originating, organizing, 

 and supporting extensive explorations of such portions of the earth's 

 surface as have not hitherto been surveyed at all, or have been imper- 

 fectly examined. But in order that the operations of such a Society 

 should be productive of all the benefit of which they are capable, care 

 should be taken that no expedition be allowed to leave our shores 

 without being supplied with proper instruments, and accompanied 

 by those who are competent to make such scientific observations as 

 the nature of the case will admit of ; and lastly, provision should be 

 made for the proper reduction and publication of such observations, 

 so that the results may be rendered as extensively useful as possible. 



On the occasion of sending out Lady Franklin's last expedition, 

 every exertion was made by us to supply its able commander, Capt. 

 M'Clintock, with a complete set of instruments, properly constructed 

 and carefully compared, and with observers trained in their use. As 

 to the former we were quite successful ; but as to the latter, difficul- 

 ties arose in reference to the employment of a particular officer, whose 

 services the Admiralty were unwilling to dispense with. I am happy 

 to be able to announce to you that I have had the pleasure of 

 perusing a letter from Capt. M'Clintock, dated from the west coast of 

 Greenland, expressing entire confidence in his brave companions and 

 in his ship, and hopeful anticipations as to the future. Need I say 

 more than that it was a letter written in the true spirit of a British 

 Naval Officer, embarked in a momentous enterprise, conscious that 

 many eyes and many hearts were anxiously tracking his steps over 

 the icebound watery waste, and determined to put forth all his 

 energies to achieve success in a noble cause. 



That any one should entertain any doubt of the propriety of ex- 

 tending to the utmost our acquaintance with the globe we inhabit, 

 seems extraordinary. That men should be found to undervalue the 

 results of scientific research is not surprising, but that they should 



