Cn. XXIV.] CONCLUSION. 433 



Indeed there seems to me to be more hope of valuable 

 materials being accumulated by the better class of merchant- 

 skippers than by any branch of the naval service ; and I am 

 acquainted with several merchant-captains who bring home 

 at the conclusion of every voyage industriously-formed 

 collections and inteUigently-written observations, which are 

 of much interest, and are j'early becoming of more import- 

 ance. I have been at some pains to bring about this end, 

 and have to some extent succeeded, though time alone can 

 evolve a more complete and general practical result. The 

 Admiralty has long since issued a useful scientific manual 

 for the use of its officers, which affords them every 

 information as to what, and how, they should set about 

 observing ; but, as far as I had an opportunity of seeing, 

 it meets with general neglect from those for whom it was 

 written. "Whether the time will come when the fleet of Her 

 Majesty's vessels which visit every sea, and which are 

 stationed for months or years together upon interesting 

 coasts otherwise little known, shall be looked upon as 

 sources of scientific material which shall bear any propor- 

 tion to the opportunities enjoyed and the treasures spent 

 upon them, is a question which cannot now be s/)lved ; we 

 can only hope that a very desirable change in this respect 

 may by degrees be brought about, which cannot fail to be 

 greatly to the advantage of naval officers as a class. 



