188 THE PEESIDENCY OF THE EOYAL SOCIETY 



yet another refusal, Hooker had the long-deferred pleasure of 

 seeing the wasteful penny- wise policy reversed to the advantage 

 of one whom he described as ' the most hard-working useful 

 man [whose] services to this establishment have been most 

 self-sacrificing.' (To Darwin, Dec. 14, 1878.) 



Among the more important matters which passed through 

 Hooker's hands as President were the arrangements with 

 Government for the expeditions to observe the solar eclipses 

 of 1875 and 1878 and the transit of Venus, also in 1875, which 

 involved the transport of the astronomers and their instru- 

 ments to stations on the other side of the world, and any 

 miscalculations in which meant the loss alike of public money 

 and scientific results. To the latter expedition, naturalists 

 and geologists were also attached, who made full investiga- 

 tions on the remote Oceanic islands of Eodriguez and 

 Kerguelen's Land. 



For the Polar expedition of 1875 under Captain (Sir) George 

 Nares, 1 naturalists were selected, and a scientific manual drawn 

 up, * The Natural History, Geology, and Physics of the Arctic 

 Eegions,' which, with the Scientific Instructions, made a book 

 of over 800 pages. 2 A further suggestion was carried out, 

 that deep sea research should be made on board the store ship 

 of the expedition on its way to Davis' Straits. 



Another such matter was the publication of the meteoro- 

 logical and magnetic observations which had been carried on 

 since 1851 in an observatory in Travancore, the first volume 

 appearing in 1875. This specially enlisted Hooker's interest 

 and help, and the valuable results won a Eoyal medal in 1878 

 for the observer, Mr. J. Allan Broun. 



Of special importance again was the Naturalist's Eeport 



1 Captain Sir George Strong Nares, B.N., K.C.B., F.R.S. (1831-1915), 

 had already hud experience in Arctic travel and in surveying the coast of 

 Australia and Torres Straits, before being appointed to the command of the 

 Challenger on her great scientific voyage, 1872, from which he was recalled in 

 1874 to lead the attempt to reach the North Pole in the Alert and the Discovery, 

 1875-6. 



2 * Have you any botanical suggestions for the Arctic Expedition ? If 

 so, please let me have them at once. I recommend special attention to insect 

 action and fertilisation, hybrids, &c., sowing earth from Icebergs. Also to 

 try experiments on germination of seeds exposed to various degrees of cold.' 

 (To Darwin, April 15, 1875.) 



