MICROSCOPICAL SECTION. 421 



Boyal Mail Steam Ship " Canada" at Sea. 



Dear Sir, February 2Srd, im . 



* * * 

 I forwarded the packages of sounding envelopes to 

 Commander Maury and to Mr. Osborn of New York ; but 

 allow me to express a doubt if much can be hoped from 

 any such method as applying to whalers or others going 

 upon casual voyages, whose commanders have no induce- 

 ment to any such industry. I would not express myself 

 thus had I no other plan to offer; but it will involve filling 

 another sheet, and as it is a hobby with me, let me make 

 an appeal to your Society for a fair consideration. 



You have on shore Literary and Philosophical Societies, 

 Museums, Free Libraries, Working Men's Associations, 

 Lectures, all kinds of instruction and diversion — for that 

 too is necessary to relieve the over-taxed brain or irritated 

 temper — besides the influence of social intercourse to 

 smooth rough manners, and make man"'s life run pleasantly 

 along. 



All classes and all ages so generally avail themselves of 

 one or other of these privileges, it is fair to infer that 

 variety of occupation is essential to the healthy tone of an 

 active mind ■ — for any of these sailors have no equivalent, 

 but might have. 



I am not now writing of such a life as mine, ever varying, 

 or of the few who by strong scientific turn of mind, happily 

 directed, have succeeded in possessing themselves of a 

 hobby ever present as a source of recreation and happiness ; 

 but I am pleading for many fine minds in the mercantile 

 marine of England, now lost to science for want of hobbies. 



To give them intellectual hobbies would be to raise the 

 whole class in the social scale, and I know of no obstacle 

 to that, but the one fear that possesses all of them, that 

 they might be told to let science alone and mind their own 



