38 REPORT — 1839. 



and awaits its development from every new light which can be 

 thrown upon it, either by voyages abroad or by experiments at 

 home. 



It would be taking a very limited view to confine the objects 

 of the proposed expedition to the investigation of one class of 

 phaenomena, however intrinsically important. In naming mag- 

 netic research as its paramount object, the British Association 

 wish to be understood not as excluding or underrating others, 

 but rather as marking by this emphatic selection, their sense 

 that its adoption would stand justified in the eyes of the scien- 

 tific world by this object alone. They are,* however, quite 

 aware how many others might, and ought to be embraced in 

 the project of such a voyage, which, taken collectively, would 

 in all probability render it as memorable and as glorious as any 

 of those great enterprises in the Northern Seas which figure so 

 conspicuously in the maritime history of this country. In a 

 geographical view, indeed, the discovery of land which may 

 exist yet unsuspected in the Southern Ocean, and the tracing 

 out more perfectly such as has been shown to exist without 

 defining its extent has been considered by the geographical 

 members of the Association so desirable, as would have induced 

 them on that ground alone to have made it a subject of recom- 

 mendation to Government. And if we do not now dilate on 

 other objects, it is because we know that, supposing the expe- 

 dition resolved on, upon what we conceive to be its chief and 

 prominent ground, the other great scientific bodies of the 

 country, and especially the Council of the Royal Society, when 

 called upon, can be at no loss to indicate numerous and most 

 important lines of inquiry, and to furnish every necessary in- 

 struction for their efi'ectual prosecution. 



In urging this subject on the attention of Her Majesty's 

 Government we wish to be understood as fully recognizing the 

 principle of not resorting to national assistance except where 

 the object aimed at is of national importance ; where private 

 zeal and private means are already in full activity, and exerted 

 to the utmost ; or where other nations have set an example 

 which may justly arouse our emulation. In this case too, we 

 may add, where no private enterprise can accomplish the end 

 proposed. As regards the importance of the subject, our opi- 

 nion is already stated of all that body of knowledge which, 

 taken collectively, constitutes what the French call Physique 

 du Globe. Terrestrial magnetism is the branch which, at the 

 present moment, stands nearest to the verge of exact theory. 

 It is an outpost ready to surrender, if attacked in form, and 



