NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 33 



Resolved, — That the Report of the Circumnavigation Committee, now adopted by the Council, be trans- 

 mitted by the Secretary to the Secretary of the Admiralty, with the following Letter : — 



In reply to your Letter of the 22nd of August, referring to the Exploratory Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger, 

 and desiring to learn, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, what are the precise 

 objects of research which the Royal Society have in view, and in what particular portions of the Ocean such 

 investigations may, in their opinion, be carried out with the greatest advantage to science and the best 

 probability of success, I am directed to acquaint you that the matter was carefully considered by a Committee, 

 consisting of the President and Officers, with Dr. Allman, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Frankland, Dr. Hooker, Professor 

 Huxley, the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys, Mr. Siemens, Sir William Thomson, 

 Dr. Wyville Thomson, Mr. Wallace, and Dr. Williamson. That Committee has presented a Report which has 

 been approved by the President and Council, by whose direction I herewith transmit it to you, to be 

 communicated to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in answer to their Lordships' inquiry. 



November 30th, 1672. 

 Read the following Letter : — 



"Admiralty, 27 th November 1872. 



" Sir, — I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to thank you for your communica- 

 tion of the 22nd instant, in regard to the objects of research which the Royal Society have in view with reference 

 to the intended voyage of H.M.S. Challenger, and to acquaint you that they are desirous of affording to the 

 President and Council of the Royal Society, as well as the Members of the Circumnavigation Committee, an 

 opportunity of inspecting the ship, and the arrangements made with a view to her equipment for the service 

 she is intended to perform. 



" 2. My Lords therefore invite those gentlemen to proceed to Sheerness on the 6th proximo for the purpose 

 of visiting the Challenger ; and a saloon carriage will be ordered to be in readiness to convey them to that 

 port by the 10.30 a.m. train from Victoria Station. 



" 3. The visitors will be able to return by the 5.10 p.m. train from Sheerness, and free railway passes will be 

 provided for them both ways. They will also be met by their Lordships' Hydrographer on the occasion. 



" 4. I am to request you will inform me, as soon as may be convenient, of the number of the gentlemen 

 who will avail themselves of their Lordships' invitation, in order that the proper number of tickets may be 



procured. 



"lam, Sir, 



" Your obedient Servant, 



"Robert Hall." 

 ; The Secretary of the Royal Society." 



Before the Expedition left England, Dr. William Stirling resigned his appointment as Naturalist ; and 

 Dr. Rudolph von Willemoes Suhm, Privat-Docent in Zoology in the University of Munich, was appointed by 

 the Admiralty in his place, on the recommendation of the Council of the Royal Society. 



(narr. chall. exp. — vol. i. — 188L) 



