138 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP. in. 



has appeared to the President and Council, that if the ship 

 required for the proposed service could be provided by the 

 temporary employment of one of Her Majesty's Surveying 

 Vessels now in commission, anything beyond a trifling outlay on 

 the part of the Government would be rendered unnecessary. 

 "I remain, 



" Your obedient Servant, 



" W. SHARPEY, M.D., 



' The Secretary to the Admiralty. H * ' Sec. JR. S. " 



Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider the 

 Scientific Apparatus it will be desirable to provide for the 

 proposed Expedition. The Committee to consist of the 

 President and Officers, with Dr. Carpenter, Captain Richards, 

 Mr. Siemens, Dr. Tyndall, and Sir Charles Wheatstone, 

 with power to add to their number. 



That a sum of 200 from the Government grant be assigned 

 to Dr. Carpenter for the further prosecution of Researches 

 into the Temperature and Zoology of the Deep Sea. 



March 18, 1869. 



An oral communication was made by the Hydrographer to the 

 effect that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had 

 acceded to the request conveyed in Dr. Sharpey's letter of 

 February 18 ; that Her Majesty's Survey ing- vessel ' Porcupine ' 

 had been assigned for the service ; and that the special equip- 

 ment needed for its efficient performance was proceeding under 

 the direction of her Commander, Captain Calver. 



April 15, 1869. 

 Read the following letter from the Admiralty : 



" ADMIRALTY, March 19, 1869. 



" SIR, With reference to previous correspondence, I am com- 

 manded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to 

 acquaint you that Dr. Carpenter and his Assistants, who have 

 been deputed by the Royal Society to accompany the Expedition 

 about to be dispatched to the neighbourhood of the Fiieroe Isles 



